Like many holiday destinations, Dubai sees the number of tourists far outweigh the number of residents during the height of the travel season. However, tourist industry experts boast that the UAE city will never face an overtourism crisis like those seen in Venice and Barcelona.
Major European destinations in Italy, Spain and Greece have faced overtourism crises this summer, breaking out in anti-tourism protests. Many local residents are fed up with the pressure that tourism puts on their lives, with the cost of living and the day-to-day crowds.
More than 17 million tourists flock to Dubai every year for its luxury shopping, lively nightlife, and relaxing atmosphere.
Despite the huge tourist numbers, Dubai has not seen the same response from its 3.6 million residents compared to its European counterparts.
Tourism experts said that the key reason Dubai will never see scenes of overcrowding like in major European destinations is down to city planning.
Speaking at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai, experts remarked that the tourist hotspots are all spread out evenly across the city.
Aradhana Khowala, CEO and founder of Aptamind Partners, said: “Dubai doesn’t have the problem of overtourism. The city has done a fantastic job of not getting to a point where everyone is crowding around the same spot.
“In Venice, every tourist wants to do a gondola ride. However, the canal has a limited capacity and can fit in a limited number of gondolas without a traffic jam.”
She continued: “Dubai is a large city and highly developed with excellent infrastructure. Areas of interest are well spread out. The entertainment options are in each of the city’s different zones.
“There is no overcrowding in one area. In Venice and Barcelona, the problem happens in key areas as parts of the city are empty.”
JS Anand, founder and CEO of Leva Hotels, echoed these remarks, saying that Dubai has “the right amount of tourism”.
He said: “You don’t see overtourism in Dubai. For overtourism, you should go to Rome. There is no place to walk. But Dubai is well-planned.”
The over-tourism crisis this summer has led major European cities to consider tourist taxes or curbing the Airbnb market.
Venice, which has a population of just 50,000, receives nearly six million tourists a year. Barcelona, which is home to 1.6 million local residents, welcomes 32 million tourists a year, pushing the city to breaking point.
Destinations in Greece are no different. Santorini is home to 15,500 people but sees well over three million visitors a year.