Christopher Gaffney Highlights Overtourism as a Condition Requiring Complex Negotiation
Christopher Gaffney, a human geographer, characterizes overtourism not as a problem to be solved, but as a condition akin to climate change or income inequality, requiring complex understanding and negotiation. He notes that despite the widespread recognition of issues caused by overtourism, there is often no coordinated response from city governments, particularly in sectors where significant revenue is generated. Gaffney points out that mass tourism has become environmentally, politically, socially, and economically detrimental, creating economic and labor dependencies that increase risk exposure for communities. He cites the example of Trastevere, a neighborhood near John Cabot University, which has been overwhelmed by tourism-induced conditions it was unprepared for, lacking strong municipal governance or grassroots movements to manage it. Gaffney suggests that the current ease and low cost of travel, partly due to the absence of taxes on jet fuel, contribute significantly to the overtourism phenomenon...
