The effects of overtourism are being felt all across Europe, as locals in popular holiday destinations protest against what they see as the negative effects of the industry.
But it seems that it is not only locals noticing a perceived deterioration due to the continued popularity of some of Europe’s most popular holiday hotspots.
Some regular visitors to the island of Cyprus have expressed their frustration at the changes they have noticed in recent years.
One such tourist is Gillian who has visited the island five times but has become annoyed at the changes she has begun to see.
She told the Cyprus Mail: “It’s silly to expect anywhere to stay the same, but the differences are becoming more pronounced with each trip.
“When I first visited, Cyprus was still a gem. Over the years, it’s become the Costa Del Sol – overcrowded and over-commercialised.
“Everywhere you look, there’s a new development going up. Even the mountain villages that used to be so peaceful and authentic are tourist traps now!”
Just under four million people visited the island last year, with British tourists accounting for over a third of all holidaymakers, according to official Cypriot travel data.
Whilst the figure represents a 20 percent increase on the year before, there are fears that the coming years could see tourist numbers drop, as holidaymakers seek alternative holiday destinations.
Cyprus Hoteliers Association president Thanos Michaelides recently revealed that the tourism sector is projected to lose thousands of visitors.
He highlighted the need to extend the tourism season and enhance year-round hotel operations, saying this would reduce labour market seasonality, support local businesses, and attract more people to tourism careers by offering better job stability.
His comments represent the balance having to be struck in tourist hotspots across the continent, with the concerns of locals and the impact of over-commercialisation having to be weighed against the impact of falling visitor numbers.
About 53,000 individuals are employed in the hospitality sector, making up 11 percent of Cyprus’s workforce and underlining the crucial role that the industry plays in the economy.