The annual influx of tourists to popular destinations always sparks debate about overtourism, but this year, concerns have reached a fever pitch. Cities like Barcelona have seen protests erupt, Santorini is overwhelmed by cruise ship crowds, and Kyoto locals grapple with disrespectful tourists.
Cozumel, too, faces familiar issues. The island boasts three cruise terminals, and rapid development has outpaced infrastructure, leading to a decline of its coral reef eco-systems Yet, surprisingly Cozumel hasn't made it onto global overtourism rankings in the media. We're curious... where does it stand? Has it just been overlooked as it's not "famous" enough?
Defining Over-tourism
Over-tourism refers to the phenomenon where popular tourist destinations become overcrowded with visitors, leading to negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and overall travel experience. It often results in congestion, pollution, increased cost of living for residents, and degradation of cultural and natural heritage sites. Over-tourism can strain local resources, disrupt daily life for residents, and diminish the authenticity of a destination.
Top 20 Global Over-tourism Rankings
Over-tourism is often measured by the tourist-to-local ratio. Cozumel's ratio. Based on the 2020 census, Cozumel had 88,626 inhabitants. World Population Review estimates the 2024 population to be around 109,708.
From January to December 2023, Cozumel's Port Authority reported that 8.3 million people were transported between Cozumel and the mainland in the five port terminals and ASUR, the operator of Cozumel airport reported 345,528 visitors by air.
Rank | Destination | Tourists (per year) | Residents | Tourists per Resident |
1 | Koh Phi Phi, Thailand | 2,000,000 | 2,500 | 800.0 |
2 | Cinque Terre, Italy | 2,400,000 | 4,000 | 600.0 |
3 | Venice, Italy | 25,000,000 | 50,000 | 500.0 |
4 | Machu Picchu, Peru | 1,500,000 | 4,500 | 333.3 |
5 | Whistler, Canada | 3,000,000 | 12,000 | 250.0 |
6 | Mykonos, Greece | 2,000,000 | 10,000 | 200.0 |
7 | Capri, Italy | 2,300,000 | 14,000 | 164.3 |
8 | Santorini, Greece | 2,000,000 | 15,500 | 129.0 |
9 | Queenstown, New Zealand | 3,300,000 | 28,000 | 117.9 |
10 | Cozumel, Mexico | 8,645,528 | 109,708 | 78.8 |
10 | Bruges, Belgium | 8,300,000 | 118,000 | 70.3 |
11 | Florence, Italy | 16,000,000 | 382,000 | 41.9 |
12 | Kyoto, Japan | 53,000,000 | 1,475,000 | 35.9 |
13 | Lisbon, Portugal | 14,000,000 | 504,000 | 27.8 |
14 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | 1,200,000 | 42,000 | 28.6 |
15 | Phuket, Thailand | 10,000,000 | 415,000 | 24.1 |
16 | Barcelona, Spain | 32,000,000 | 1,620,000 | 19.8 |
17 | Reykjavik, Iceland | 2,300,000 | 123,000 | 18.7 |
18 | Ubud, Bali, Indonesia | 1,800,000 | 112,000 | 16.1 |
19 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 20,000,000 | 1,149,000 | 17.4 |
20 | Mallorca, Spain | 14,000,000 | 890,000 | 15.7 |
These figures reflect the intensity of tourism in these destinations, which can lead to both economic benefits and significant challenges for local communities.
There are many familiar names in the list that have shown up in the news recently like Barcelona, Mallorca, Kyoto and Bali, where we have seen anti-tourism sentiments rising. We are quite surprised that Cozumel landed on spot 10 on the list of the global 20 more famous destinations.
The Environmental Toll of Tourism
The average tourist consumes 100-200 liters of water per day and generates 1-2kg (2.2 - 4.5 lbs) of trash daily. This can put a severe strain on islands like Cozumel, with their finite underground water aquifer, limited space to dispose of the garbage and strained wastewater infrastructure.
The environmental impact of over-tourism is not just an abstract concern; it's a tangible threat to the island's natural beauty and long-term sustainability. Will over-tourism end up stripping Cozumel of its natural attractions and ultimately leaving a barren playground for drunken tourists for Cozumeleños to inherit?
Learning from Other Cities: Combating Overtourism
Other cities give us hope that locals can help propel change. Let's look at some ways other cities are combating over-tourism. Maybe some can be applied to Cozumel?
Tourist taxes to fund other programs: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bali and Venice have increased tourist taxes to fund sustainable tourism initiatives and much-needed infrastructure improvements.
Direct Restrictions: Venice has taken the bold step of banning large cruise ships from its historic center, and Bali has implemented visitor quotas at sacred sites to protect their cultural and spiritual integrity.
Promotion of Lesser-Known Areas: Barcelona and Kyoto are actively promoting lesser-known neighborhoods and attractions to disperse tourist traffic more evenly and reduce congestion in their historic centers.
Education and Awareness: Kyoto has introduced guidelines promoting respectful behavior among tourists, recognizing the importance of cultural sensitivity and responsible travel.
Stricter Enforcement: Bali has banned single-use plastics to combat pollution, and dress codes at temples are now more strictly enforced to preserve cultural traditions.
Charting a Sustainable Path for Cozumel
Cozumel can learn valuable lessons from the experiences of over-touristed destinations. By implementing proactive measures now, the island can avoid the negative consequences that come with unbridled tourism growth. Here are some ideas:
Diversifcation of economy: Attract visitors beyond the cruise ship market by focusing on cultural immersion, ecotourism, and adventure activities or attracting more longer stay tourists like digital nomads.
Capacity Limits: Protect natural resources by setting visitor limits at popular sites like the reefs.
Sustainability Initiatives: Invest in renewable energy sources, implement robust recycling programs, promote eco-friendly transportation options and aid the local reef restoration organizations bring back more marine life
Local Partnerships: Foster collaboration between local businesses, residents, and conservation organizations to ensure a holistic approach to sustainable tourism development.
Tourist Tax: Implement a tourist tax, following the models of other destinations, to generate revenue for crucial infrastructure projects like new sewage lines, water treatment plants or recycling/composting facilities.
Empower Local Entrepreneurs: Encourage young people to create sustainable businesses, keeping profits within the local community and fostering a sense of ownership and pride of preserving Cozumel
Zone for Eco-Tourism: Designate specific contiguous areas for nature-based activities like bird-watching, snorkeling and scuba-diving to see the marine life, separate from high-impact zones, to preserve water quality and limit pollution.
By diversifying its tourism offerings, involving the local community in decision-making, and prioritizing sustainability, Cozumel can ensure that the benefits of tourism are distributed equitably and that the island remains a cherished destination for generations to come, rather than a cautionary tale.
Can coral reefs and tourism grow hand in hand?
Does the growth of tourism and urban development mean a certain death for the reefs, jungles and animals of Cozumel? We certainly hope not.
Obviously being a coral charity, we would really love to see better waste water treatment and protections for the corals. Our coral restoration work tries to reverse the damage brought on by water pollution through unsustainable tourism. We are maintaining these critical reef eco-systems alive through human intervention, but we hope we can permanently remove some of the pressures facing the Cozumel reefs through sustainable tourism - to allow them to actually thrive, regrow and regain their former glory.
It's time to turn the tide on over-tourism and create a more sustainable and equitable future for Cozumeleños and a better experience for tourists visiting Cozumel.
The conversation continues: What other initiatives can we explore to safeguard Cozumel's future? How can we ensure that tourism benefits both visitors and residents alike?
Have you seen other models of sustainable tourism that has worked?
Let's share your ideas in the comments and let's work together to create a brighter future for this beautiful island.
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