
Europe's most overcrowded island has been named. A report by consumer advisor Which? has detailed the 10 places with the highest "tourist pressure"-visitors per 1,000 residents-and Zakynthos-also known as Zante-in has come out on top. Second was ranked Istarska Zupanija in , and third was the Spanish island of Fuerteventura. Experts have recommended some alternative destinations.
emphasised that only around 40,000 people actually live on Zakynthos, but it had 6 million overnight stays in 2023. Most of these were on the "sprawling, raucous" resorts along the south coast. This means there were 150 overnight stays for every person who lives there. Specialists added: "Zante does not have the most visitors in absolute terms, but compared to residents, the volume of tourists is huge. The results of this level of tourism vary, but broadly it means a holiday there is mostly spent in the company of other tourists while shops, restaurants and cultural experiences will often be aimed (and priced) at tourists rather than locals."
If UK travellers are looking for a "quiet seaside holiday", Haapsalu in Estonia is a seaside resort that has around 120 overnight stays by tourists per square kilometres, Which? emphasised.
It added: "Overtourism is already so prevalent that popular destinations are now actively trying to reduce the number of arrivals. As a result, travellers may now be resistant to visit certain areas like Spain due to the increase in tourist tax and overtourism protests, so it is more worthwhile than ever for travellers to consider alternative destinations for their holidays.
"What this data shows is that overtourism has overwhelmed some of Europe's most popular destinations," Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel said.
He added: "With so many fantastic places in Europe, the truth is, you are going to have a far better holiday in a destination where there are not hundreds or even thousands more tourists than there are locals."
Try Estonia for stunning coastlines and, yes, warm weather, during summer. Or if you want to stick with Spain, Murcia is a great option."
Full list of places with highest tourist pressure- Zakynthos (149,886.95)
- Istarska Zupanija (133,466.93)
- Fuerteventura (118,720.31)
- Lanzarote (117,785.17)
- Dodecanese Islands - Kalymnos, Karpathos - Iroiki Nisos Kasos, Kos, Rodos (113,790.45)
- Tiroler Oberland, Austria (112,716.37)
- Pinzgau-Pongau, Austria (Salzburg Alps) (109,009.7)
- Cyclade Island group- Andros, Thira, Kea, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Tinos (104,152.63)
- Kerkyra, Corfu (100,079.59)
- Außerfern, Austria (97,299.12)
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