How Overtourism Threatens Large Urban Areas: A Case Study of the City of Wroc?aw, Poland

Wojciech Fedyk, Mariusz Sołtysik, Janusz Olearnik, Katarzyna Barwicka and Anna Mucha
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Wojciech Fedyk: University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Mariusz Sołtysik: University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Janusz Olearnik: University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Katarzyna Barwicka: University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Anna Mucha: Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Kożuchowska 7, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Excessive tourist traffic concentration in cities of high tourist attractiveness often leads to overtourism, manifested, among others, by overcrowding in appealing areas and means of transport, rising prices, or degradation of natural and cultural resources. The effects of an excessive number of tourists include an unfavourable change in the local community’s attitude towards tourists. The paper determines the extent and forms of overtourism symptoms in Wroc?aw, Poland. The research allowed for the identification of negative and positive effects of tourist traffic in Wroc?aw as perceived by three groups of respondents: experts, Wroc?aw residents: key experts from the scientific, administrative, planning, and business communities; people directly involved in tourist services; and students of tourism. The crucial part was direct research, conducted in November 2019 with a questionnaire technique. The results confirm symptoms of overtourism in Wroc?aw, but the threat is not significant. The article shows specific potential overtourism threat factors; the respondents’ opinions did not significantly differ between the groups. The presented findings and conclusions may be useful in developing the tourism policy of this and other cities, especially regarding sustainable development of tourism and the potential threat imposed by overtourism. The methodology may be used in similar comparative studies in other cities.

Keywords: sustainable tourism; overtourism; urban tourism; Wroc?aw city; Poland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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