Overtourism, here is the ranking of the most crowded cities from Dubrovnik to Venice and Marrakech

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Tourism has returned to pre-Covid levels but has brought with it the critical issues that accompanied its growth before the abrupt stop caused by the pandemic. In particular, a concentration of travelers in certain locations who end up being victims of the phenomenon dubbed “overtourism”. In fact the80% of travelers only visit the 10% of tourist destinations in the world.

The annual report McKinsey & Company (“The state of tourism and hospitality 2024”), among many analyses, also lifts the veil on the most crowded urban destinations in a ranking based on the number of nights spent in 2023 by domestic and foreign visitors per square kilometre. In the first place there is Dubrovnik (Croatia), followed by Venice and from Macau (China). Another Italian city appears among the top fifteen positions, Rome (in 13th place), just below Paris (12th).

The situation in 2030

The number of travelers and the frequency of their trips are destined to increase (in the first quarter of the year the nights spent in EU accommodation establishments increased by 6.6% compared to the same period in 2023) and the same report offers a projection to 2030: a scenario in which the city on the lagoon (which is experimenting with an access ticket for day tourists) will see a less significant increase in tourist crowding (+26%) compared to other destinations such as Marrakesh (+86%), Amsterdam (+72%) and the same Dubrovnik (+70%). In six years, Venice will therefore be the third city in the world in terms of tourism intensity, overtaken by Macao (where an increase of 45% is expected).

The Dubrovnik case

Dubrovnik is the archetype of a “highly seasonal destination”: in the high season (July and August) the incoming airline seats made available for sale are approximately 20 times higher than in January and February. The density of holiday rentals can reach around 90 listings per square kilometer in summer. The city is also a popular stop for Mediterranean cruises.

The risks for Rome and Venice

The report also offers a diagnosis that cities “under tourist attack” can use to “identify early warning signs about concentration.” These are six categories (from the dependence of the local economy on tourism to the threat to culture and heritage) measured by risk quintiles. Venice And Romethe two Italian destinations included among the 165 monitored destinations, fall into the highest quintile for traveler density and the impact it can have on the lives of residents.