From Japan to India, overtourism cries out for new success metrics

From Japan to India, overtourism cries out for new success metrics

From Asia - South China Morning Post

April 29, 2026

About this episode

The episode discusses the inadequacy of traditional tourism success metrics in addressing the needs of local communities affected by overtourism.

Can tourism be considered successful if arrivals increase, but the local communities – the very soul of the destination – feel strained and excluded? Too often, tourism success is measured in arrivals, occupancy and revenue. These numbers matter. But they tell only a fraction of the story. We must ask: who is this success really for? Traditional growth metrics are no longer sufficient to protect the residents who host the world or the workers who power the experience. To prevent cultural...

Topics covered

  • overtourism
  • success metrics
  • local communities
  • cultural impact
  • tourism industry

Keywords

  • overtourism
  • success metrics
  • local communities
  • cultural impact
  • tourism

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Japan, India

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