A new study by the European Commission shows that the Greek island Zakynthos is the most overcrowded tourist destination in Europe, with a report of almost 150 tourists to a resident in the peak season.
Zakynthos Island is the busiest destination in Europe Photo Shutterstock
The Greek island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante, was designated the busiest holiday destination in Europe, according to a study based on the so-called “tourist pressure”. It was made by the European Commission, which compared the number of nights spent by tourists in a certain region with the number of permanent inhabitants.
The Wich Publication? Travel analyzed the data and concluded that Zakynthos is facing an extremely high level of tourist agglomeration. With only 40,000 inhabitants, the island registered no less than 6 million nights in 2023. In the peak season of summer, the ratio between tourists and locals reaches almost 150 to one.
Zakynthos is the third largest island in the Ionian Sea and one of the most sought after tourist destinations. Most tourists choose to stay in the large resorts on the southern coast, such as Laganas, Kalamaki, Tsilivi, Argassi and Alkinas, who are known for their hectic and noisy atmosphere.
Infrastructure outdated by the number of tourists
According to Responsible Travel, a company specialized in responsible tourism, the island hardly face the huge flow of visitors: “He is struggling to cope with millions of visitors.“
The local infrastructure is put to the test: “The ferries are archiplines of people and luggage in the peak season, as well as roads, ports, airports, and waste collection facilities and electrical networks are barely facing the influx of tourists.. ”
Supporturism in Europe
Zakynthos is not an isolated case. More and more European destinations are experiencing the problem of supraturism – a phenomenon that puts pressure on infrastructure, local communities and natural resources. Recent studies draw attention to the need to rethink how mass tourism is managed.
