There are signs of “overtourism” in Hungary, according to a report recently released by audit and advisory company KPMG. It warns that preventative measures are needed to ensure that an increase in tourism does not affect the quality of life of locals and endanger the natural values of the country.
Overtourism is a term used to describe destinations where hosts or guests, locals or visitors, feel that there are too many visitors and that the quality of life in the area or the quality of the experience has deteriorated unacceptably.
As reported by Hungary Today, the head of the Tourism Advisory Department at KPMG, Dániel Indra, explained in a statement that there are already signs of overtourism in Hungary. Indra cited last year’s local referendum in Budapest’s seventh district–the so-called party district–on the opening hours of pubs and other venues as an example.
One sign of excessive tourism is a lack of capacity in vital areas. According to Indra, a primary example of this is the Budapest Airport. Between 2013 and 2015 alone, traffic at the airport increased from 8.5 million passengers to 15 million.
According to Hungary Today, Budapest is the fifth touristically overcrowded city in Europe behind Barcelona, Amsterdam, Venice and Milan.
