ATHENS — Southern Europe wildfires have erupted once again, prompting authorities in Greece and Türkiye to issue evacuation orders and push urgent safety guidance to residents and tourists alike. The combination of a blistering early-summer heatwave, tinder-dry vegetation and strong winds has set off multiple blazes from the Aegean coast of Türkiye to the hills south of Athens.
From the echo of suitcase wheels on ancient cobblestones to selfie crowds at iconic sites, Europe’s 2024 travel boom has made the continent both a premier destination and a focal point for rising overtourism concerns. According to the U.N.’s World Tourism Barometer, international arrivals soared to an unprecedented 747 million last year—far eclipsing every other region in the world. Southern and Western Europe attracted over 70 percent of these globe-trotters, putting immense strain on local resources, housing, and treasured landmarks.
BARCELONA, Spain; VENICE, Italy; June 13 — Calls for urgent action are reverberating across southern Europe as popular destinations grapple with a surging backlash against mass tourism. With chants such as “Your holidays, my misery” and banners reading “Mass tourism kills the city,” demonstrators have flooded streets in Spain and Italy, demanding solutions to what they describe as the unchecked influx of visitors overwhelming their communities.
