Overtourism: Beaches as Commons in the face of destruction

In an era of rampant commercialization of everything and escalating environmental destruction, it is more than necessary for us as a society to redefine our understanding of beaches and coastal areas in general, as well as our position and attitude towards them and their management.

Beaches are not tourist destinations, or plots of land for economic exploitation, on the contrary they are common resources that belong to all humanity and the natural world. This paradigm shift is necessary to promote their sustainable management and address the multifaceted negative impacts of overtourism.

Theoretical framework: Beaches as Commons

The concept of the Commons, as formulated by scholars such as Elinor Ostrom, or David Harvey, emphasizes collective ownership and management. Ostrom’s pioneering work on the governance of commons challenges Hardin’s (1968) “tragedy of the commons” narrative, which argues that there is no alternative but external intervention and that a common resource can only be sustainable when it is either controlled and regulated by the state or privatized.

In contrast to this one-dimensional view, Nobel laureate Ostrom, in her monumental 1990 work “The Governance of Commons,” demonstrated – through a wealth of examples from all over the world – that communities can effectively manage their resources through collective action and self-regulation (Ostrom, 2002). Furthermore, Bookchin’s social ecology extends this idea by linking environmental issues to social structures, advocating decentralized, community-based management of natural resources (Bookchin, 2016). Harvey (2006), for his part, criticizes the commodification of natural resources and advocates the recovery of the Commons as part of a broader struggle against the sweeping onslaught of neoliberalism.

The Tragedy of Overtourism

It is no secret that overtourism poses significant threats to coastal environments, resulting in a modern manifestation of the “tragedy of the commons”, the tragedy of overtourism. The huge influx of tourists to popular coastal destinations, as is the case in Greece, puts enormous pressure on local ecosystems, which manifests itself in various harmful ways, such as:

A) Environmental degradation

The increase in the number of tourists disrupts marine and coastal ecosystems. Pollution from waste, sewage, etc. contributes to the degradation of water quality, the destruction of marine habitats and also undermines the ecological functions of beaches such as the protection of biodiversity.

B) Erosion and habitat loss

Increased tourist traffic and the construction of tourist infrastructure also accelerate coastal erosion. As Hall (2001) characteristically writes about sand dunes, their destruction makes coastal areas more vulnerable to natural disasters such as storms and rising sea levels. This erosion not only threatens wildlife but also the human communities that depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.

C) Cultural erosion

The commercialization of beaches often marginalizes and fragments local communities. Traditional livelihoods, such as fishing, are undermined by the tourism economy, leading to socio-economic inequalities and loss of cultural heritage. As beaches are turned into commodities, local customs and practices are often sidelined in favor of activities that cater to thousands of tourists, resulting in cultural homogenization.

D) Economic inequality

While soft tourism can stimulate local economies, the all-inclusive overtourism observed in Greece, but also in general, mathematically leads to economic inequality. Profits from tourism benefit either foreign investors and multinational companies, or the “elite” of domestic capital, and not local populations, thus exacerbating social and economic inequalities. This dynamic can also create dependence on unstable tourism markets and displace traditional economic activities.

Towards sustainable beach management

To mitigate these negative impacts, it is essential in our opinion to adopt sustainable management practices that are rooted in the principles of the Commons. These include:

A) Community engagement

Empowering local communities to take an active role in the management and governance of beaches ensures that their knowledge and needs are prioritized in decision-making processes. Management by the community – for the community leads to more effective and culturally appropriate governance strategies.

B) Regulation and enforcement

Implementation of strict regulations to control the number of tourists, limit buildings, hotel facilities, etc. and reduce pollution is crucial. Effective enforcement mechanisms are vital to ensure compliance and protect fragile ecosystems. These policies, which will naturally take into account the ecological limits of each beach and the wider area, should be decided and implemented by the communities themselves that manage them. As Bollier (2016) argues, the Commons arise when a community makes the decision to manage a resource collectively and regulates its equitable access, use and sustainability.

C) Education and Awareness

Raising awareness among tourists, as well as permanent residents, about the impacts of overtourism is also vital. Educational initiatives can promote responsible tourism practices and foster a culture of respect. This can include, for example, informing visitors about the ecological and cultural significance of the beaches they visit.

Sustainable Tourism Models

Encouraging tourism models that prioritize sustainability over profit is essential. Soft ecotourism, which is designed to benefit the community, can offer an alternative that delivers economic benefits while maintaining environmental and cultural integrity. These tourism models rely on lower visitor numbers and more meaningful engagement with local communities and ecosystems.

For example, in Tuscany, Italy, agritourism practices are implemented, combining agricultural activities with tourism and providing visitors with the experience of rural life. Visitors can stay on farms where they work and participate in grape harvesting, learn about winemaking, and enjoy local foods, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and supporting the local economy.

Another example is that of Kerala in India where responsible tourism initiatives are being implemented with programs that include village tours, cultural performances and promotion of local handicrafts. The Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society is an initiative that works under the Ministry of Tourism to disseminate and implement the ideologies and initiatives of responsible tourism throughout the State.

Of course, to be initiatives of the Commons, these initiatives must be undertaken by the community of “commoners” and not by external components such as the state or the capitalist elite. On this basis, a protectionist movement from below is slowly beginning to appear, a “double movement” in Polanyi terms on the part of society, where we observe citizens resisting mass tourism and starting protests demanding their beaches back.

For example, in neighboring Spain, which is also suffering from overtourism, protests have begun in various areas. In Mallorca, a movement has recently been created to occupy the beaches by residents, who, under the slogan “Menys Turisme, Més Vida” (Less Tourism, More Life), are protesting overtourism. The same is true in the Canary Islands, where 50,000 residents took to the streets with the slogan “Canarias se agota,” meaning the Canaries are running out. In Granada, locals are mobilizing to express their problems with the influx of tourists, which, they claim, has made their neighborhood below the Alhambra palace uninhabitable.

Conclusion

Reclaiming our beaches and managing them as Commons is not an arbitrary or academic exercise, but an urgent need to ensure their survival in the face of neoliberal overtourism. By adopting an approach based on the Commons and explicit collective self-determination, we can protect beaches and the cultural identity of each place, as well as promote social equality and a more sustainable and democratic relationship between people and nature.

Communities must step up and take responsibility for the management of the natural resources that belong to them. This means that through collective processes and democratic decisions, they can – and must – determine how they will be used and protected. In this way, beaches are not treated as products to be exploited, but as common goods that belong to the community and require its care.

It is time to reconsider our relationship with nature and commit to preserving it for future generations. But this cannot be achieved without mobilization on the part of society. Managing beaches as Commons and adopting explicit collective self-institution are central to this case. Only in this way can we hope to preserve natural beauty and biodiversity, while moving towards more cohesive, just and democratic societies.

Bibliographic references

Bollier, D. (2016). Commons, a brief introduction.

Bookchin, M. (2016). The Ecology of Freedom: The Emergence and Dissolution of Hierarchy.

Hall, C. M. (2001). Trends in ocean and coastal tourism: the end of the last frontier?. Ocean & coastal management, 44(9-10), 601-618.

Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons: the population problem has no technical solution; it requires a fundamental extension in morality. Science, 162(3859), 1243-1248.

Harvey, D. (2006). The New Imperialism.

Ostrom, E. (2002). Governing the Commons.