It seems to be a topic we’re all talking about recently – Overtourism. Choosing to travel outside of peak travel seasons is one of the most important ways we can start travelling slower.
As travel becomes cheaper and more accessible, overtourism has become a huge problem in areas where tourists flock in their droves. Overtourism has resulted in increases in rent prices as local residents are pushed out to make way for tourists, depletion of wildlife due to mass crowds and congestion and fragile environments becoming degraded.
Deciding not to impact overtourism is a really easy decision for those with the flexibility to travel outside of peak seasons. Before booking your trip, check the high season dates and try to avoid where possible. For example, travelling to Thailand between April and October rather than November to March or avoiding Bali over July and August.
As well as travelling outside of peak seasons, you can also choose less crowded destinations in your country of choice. Choosing to visit the towns in the Spanish mountains rather than contributing to the over crowding in Barcelona for example.
I have recently written a post about wanting to travel slower, after a particularly fast-paced, mindless travel year. I have been looking for actionable tips ever since, and yours are some of the most practical and useful. Thanks for sharing! Hopefully, I can look back on 2020 and be pleased about the slow travel year I’ve had.
Clarissa | clarissadean.com
Hi Clarissa, I’m so so glad these were helpful!
That was exactly how I came to start travelling slower as well – I’d noticed just how fast paced i’d been moving through the world, paying very little attention to the effects my travels were having. Hope you have a wonderful, slow travel filled 2020!
Hi i first heard about slow travel from a digital nomad and i thought that was the only way i could implement it. Now I realize I can do it while still staying in the Philippines. Your PH video also reminded me of how beautiful my country is and how i SHOULD travel around here first. Thank you so much!