Examining the Phenomenon of Overtourism in the Context of Local Community Perception: The Case of Bodrum

Abstract

The concept of “overtourism,” introduced by Claudio Milano in 2017, refers to the unsustainable growth of mass tourism and its negative impacts on local communities. These include overcrowding, traffic congestion, seasonal economic dependency, housing pressure, environmental degradation, and reduced contributions to the local economy. Such pressures often lead to social discomfort, loss of belonging, and displacement. Since the 2000s, studies have increasingly focused on how residents perceive these impacts. This study aims to measure the level of overtourism in Bodrum, a key tourist destination in the Mediterranean, by adapting international overtourism indicators. Using surveys and statistical data, it identifies the physical, economic, social, and environmental pressures experienced by locals. The findings contribute to developing strategic planning approaches for more sustainable tourism governance in overburdened coastal settlements.