Tourism Overcrowding and Sustainable Tourism: A Review of Residents’ Perceptions and Governance Approaches

Tourism overcrowding has emerged as a significant challenge for global tourist destinations, leading to environmental degradation, cultural erosion, and growing dissatisfaction among local residents. This literature review examines the concept of tourism overcrowding in contrast to sustainable tourism, with a specific focus on how residents perceive the impacts of tourism on their communities. The study reviews existing academic literature on tourism overcrowding, sustainable tourism practices, and governance mechanisms aimed at mitigating negative consequences. Through an in-depth analysis of scholarly sources, the paper identifies recurring themes in resident perceptions, including economic benefits, infrastructural pressure, environmental concerns, and social disruption. In addition, the review highlights innovative strategies implemented worldwide to manage tourism sustainably, such as visitor capacity limits, community-led tourism governance, and the application of smart tourism technologies. The findings emphasize the importance of a collaborative approach involving policymakers, tourism businesses, and local communities to ensure long-term sustainability in tourism development.