OVERTOURISM: May 2026 podcast playlist

Overtourism is a buzzword lately, but also having real impacts on the lives of both the people living in the most-visited places and anyone traveling. We live in the heart of it here in Spain, and see our city struggling with housing prices and covered in “Tourist Go Home Signs” (and being just down the coast from Barcelona, where the infamous water gun incidents and more have brought international press attention). However, as we hope the list conveys, it’s a complicated issue with many angles, from policy to practicalities and travel tips.

This playlist was curated by Shannon Martin, founder of the Valencia, Spain PBC chapter, and Jeannie Dilger, a Valencia member who helps women and queer folks over 50 travel Europe solo via AdventuringAlone.com.

Podcast Playlist on OVERTOURISM

Get the full playlist on your podcast player of choice using these platforms:

* Listen Notes allows you to quickly download all of the episodes using a variety of podcast apps. Here is a quick demo video.

What Now? With Trevor Noah: “Revenge of the Tourists with Rajan Datar” (September 2024, 49 min)
This discussion with travel journalist Rajan Datar covers all the highlights and news on this topic, with a dose of humor that Trevor Noah brings. It also dives into more of the subtleties around globalization, policies, and more.

Peak Travel: “Bhutan’s Radical Approach to Overtourism” (March 2025, 21 min)
Many places allow tourists to visit with little restrictions. But Bhutan, a tiny, land-locked country has implemented a “high-value, low-impact” tourism model, including a fee that tourists have to pay each day that they visit. As more destinations grapple with the effects of overtourism, what can Bhutan teach us about how to manage it?
The Thoughtful Travel Podcast: “333 Overtourism” (January 2025, 24 min)
Overtourism is a buzz word of late, but not a good one. We’ve all read about the cities and regions being overrun by tourists, who might be damaging natural or historical sights, or making an area unaffordable for its original residents to stay in. In this episode three guests with an interest in overtourism offer their thoughts on the topic.
Vacation Rental Scale-Up: “Airbnb Reframes Overtourism-And Puts Hotels on the Defensive” (June 2025, 9 min)
Take it with a grain of salt as this podcast is for vacation rental owners, but we constantly hear Airbnb being blamed for housing cost issues as related to overtourism. This podcast shares how Airbnb has reacted and some interesting statistics around vacation rentals and hotels, which adds a perspective to consider.

National Park After Dark: “The Last Tourist with Bruce Poon Tip” (July 2022, 52 min)
Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures and Executive Producer of The Last Tourist documentary, discusses the negative impacts of overtourism, animal cruelty in entertainment, and responsible, sustainable travel that benefits local communities.
Bonus podcast episodes:

• What in the World: “Why Water Pistols Are Being Used to Fight Overtourism” (July 2025, 12 min)
  Water pistols have become a symbol of resistance against overtourism in several cities around the world. This summer local residents in Barcelona, Spain, have been using them again to show their frustration at how mass tourism is impacting their city; from housing to overcrowding.
• Peak Travel: “You Don’t Want to End Up Like Venice” (August 2024, 29 min)
  Venice has long been considered the poster child for overtourism in Europe. As ever-growing waves of tourists aboard boats and cruise ships jeopardize the delicate city, residents hope a new entry fee will offer relief.
• Reuter’s Econ World: “Overtourism” (July 2025, 38 min)
  A look at the economic trade-offs at play in mass tourism as backlash grows in places like Spain and Japan.

Conversation Starter Questions:

1. Have you experienced the effects of overtourism, in traveling or where you live? Where’s the “worst” overtourism you’ve experienced?
2. What do you do to avoid being part of overtourism’s effects or to be more sustainable in your travels? How has your own travel changed, or will you do anything differently after listening to this list?
3. What factors do you think are often overlooked in these discussions, or overemphasized/simplified?
4. What solutions have you seen or heard that have worked, or could be considered?