Overtourism has sparked backlash worldwide, from Barcelona's protest marches to rising resentment in destinations overwhelmed by visitor crowds. Author Paige McClanahan proposes a counterintuitive solution: travel less frequently but stay longer in each place.
Rather than the typical hit-and-run itinerary that sees travellers rushing through five cities in two weeks, McClanahan advocates for what she calls "slow travel." Spend ten days in one destination instead of two days each across five. This approach allows visitors to integrate into local communities, eat at neighbourhood restaurants rather than tourist traps, and understand a place's culture beyond Instagram backdrops.
The shift addresses a genuine problem. Cities like Barcelona, Venice, and Dubrovnik have reached breaking points, with residents protesting that tourism has priced them out of their own neighbourhoods and degraded quality of life. Local businesses have closed, replaced by souvenir shops. Streets designed for thousands now choke under millions.
McClanahan's thesis challenges the travel industry's growth narrative. Budget airlines, hotel chains, and tour operators profit from volume. Encouraging fewer but longer trips runs counter to their business model. Yet the data supports her approach. Travellers who spend longer in places spend more money locally while creating less friction with residents. A visitor staying two weeks in Athens spends differently, eats differently, and behaves differently than one racing to hit the Acropolis before catching the next flight.
For budget-conscious travellers, this model works well too. Staying longer often means negotiating better accommodation rates. Cooking some meals instead of eating out every night reduces costs. Public transport becomes affordable for week-long stays.
The real shift requires changing how we define travel success. It means resisting the urge to accumulate passport stamps. It means missing something you'll never see because you've chosen depth over breadth.