The tourism industry drastically recovered this 2023. This was confirmed by numerous travel agencies and organizations. When the global COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, airlines and other travel companies were having a hard time generating revenue.
Some experts warned that if the tourism industry could not bounce back once the health crisis is over, then it could experience serious changes that would have long-term effects.
Luckily, the tourism industry did manage to get back on its feet; and it is doing so on a whole new level. However, there are also some consequences of too much tourism recovery, such as over-tourism.
Tourism Drastically Recovered This 2023!
According to Fox News' latest report, the American Automobile Association (AAA) confirmed in April that international trips in the United States increased by over 200%.
This shows a wide gap compared to the international trips recorded in 2022. Meanwhile, a previous survey (released in August) revealed that almost 50% of Americans now want to travel more.
Because of their travel needs, the summer and winter travel periods reached new high records; even exceeding those recorded in pre-pandemic levels.
Researchers said that this is because Americans and other people across the globe are desperate to quench their thirst for traveling. However, since traveling is still quite different compared to when the previous years before COVID-19 changed the tourism industry, many people become frustrated as their expectations are not met.
Just imagine trying to travel to a tourist location in another country only to see overcrowded areas. Seeing people loitering and littering around can definitely ignite negative emotions.
Because of this, numerous incidents where people get involved in brawls and other unwanted activities have been recorded this 2023. These include the recent fight along a popular tourist street called "Sin Street" in Spain.
Another incident happened in Yellowstone, where a tourist surprisingly tried to pet a wild bison that was just grazing by a pathway.
How to Avoid Tourist Crowds
If you are planning to travel in 2024, it would be best to avoid tourist crowds. Remember, having more people in one area means that you are at risk of getting involved in fights and other unwanted happenings.
To avoid them, the best thing you can do is travel during the period when fewer people are visiting your preferred tourist location. Luckily, CNN Travel provided the best months for you to visit popular tourist spots:
- Amsterdam: January, February, and March
- Athens: April, May, September, and October
- Bali: October to April
- Barcelona: Spring and Autumn, especially during the Easter week.
- Miami: Travel during the months when there's high heat and humidity. Just avoid November until April or vice versa.
- Paris: In 2024, Paris is expected to be overcrowded because of the Summer Olympic Games. Lots of travelers are also expected to take advantage of other months. So, just be expected that Paris will be overcrowded throughout 2024.
