Residents of Croatia’s second-largest city, Split, have had enough of the city’s party reputation and want to see a different type of tourist visit.
The locals have had enough of tourists who only come for “partying and alcohol” as the coastal city is known for hosting music festivals like Ultra Europe.
The chaos has caused the city’s need for extra security and police presence to “watch for antisocial behaviours like public drinking, peeing or people with their shirts off”.
However, it has also affected Split’s housing market due to increased short-term letting.
Visitors who stay for a couple of months have driven up rent prices to an average of €700 to €800 (£588.96 to £673.10) per month. With the average monthly salary in the city being €1,000 (£841.97), this situation makes it extremely challenging for many residents.
Vana, a cruise company employee, said: “It’s becoming harder for younger people to find a flat, start their lives, or have a family.”
The city centre has also become expensive and packed with tourists, forcing locals to avoid the area.
Victoria, an employee at a day trip company, said: “There used to be a lot nicer, polite tourists before, with families – we like them, we have no problem with tourists like this”.
The challenge comes as Split is reliant on tourism, with many locals earning the majority of their yearly income during the busy summer periods.
Officials have begun regulating the number and type of accommodation options in split following its tourist board commissioning a ‘Study of the Tourism Carrying Capacity of the City’ two years ago.
The study assessed whether the local infrastructure and accommodation were suitable to handle the 900,000 tourists the city welcomes each year.
Overtourism was pronounced in the city centre.
The Tourist Board of Split said: “We are committed to finding the right balance between supporting a thriving tourism industry and preserving the quality of life for the residents of Split.
“Our goal is to ensure that tourism development is socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable, with a strong emphasis on improving the quality of life for residents.”