Consider the potential challenges and solutions of overtourism in tourism management and explore the negative impacts of tourism.

1,148 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
This course is part of the program Critical Issues in Tourism Management, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Master of Business Administration (Sustainable Tourism). Find out more.

Discover the global impact of too many tourists

Tourism has long been considered highly beneficial.

It can be argued to have brought wealth to forgotten rural communities, cushioned the blow of financial crashes, conserved critically endangered species, and restored crumbling historic cities.

However, this entirely positive view is increasingly being challenged as scholars and practitioners analyse tourism’s negative impact in more depth.

On this course, you’ll have the opportunity to explore what overtourism is and how it’s affecting communities. You’ll explore its meaning in a tourism management context and consider potential solutions.

What topics will you cover?

  • Definitions of overtourism
  • Elements of carrying capacity
  • Managerial responsibilities towards overtourism
  • Local communities and overtourism
  • Tourism offer, quality and overtourism
  • Possible solutions for overtourism

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Understand the growing debate on overtourism
  • Forecast the future implications of this phenomenon for the management of tourist destinations
  • Consider possible innovative solutions to the problem

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the overtourism phenomenon.

It will be of particular interest to those with a background in social sciences, arts, sustainable development or business studies, or anyone with a professional background in tourism and hospitality.

Please note that the individuals detailed in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below, are current staff members and may be subject to change.

Who will you learn with?

Lecturer in International Tourism Management and research fellow (Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations) at Coventry University.

Who developed the course?

Coventry University

Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.

  • Established

    1992
  • Location

    Coventry

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  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

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Do the free course
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Get academic credit for an online degree from Coventry University
This course is part of the program Critical Issues in Tourism Management, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Master of Business Administration (Sustainable Tourism).

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