DESTINATION OVER-TOURISM AS A PROBLEM OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE GLOBAL HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Abstract

The article examines the impact of transport accessibility on the development of global tourist destinations and the intensification of the overtourism problem. It is substantiated that the development of civil aviation in the second half of the 20th century became one of the key drivers of rapid growth in international tourist flows, expansion of travel geography, and strengthening of tourism’s economic role in the functioning of cities and regions. It is established that transport infrastructure determines not only the accessibility of a destination but also the pace of its tourism growth, the scale of visitor attraction, and its ability to integrate into the global tourism market. It is shown that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in air transportation; however, in the post-crisis period the sector quickly recovered and regained its role as a fundamental driver of international tourism. Based on the analysis of statistical and analytical sources, it is proven that increasing transport mobility and tourist expenditures generate significant economic effects for leading global destinations, including Paris, Dubai, Macao, Orlando, and Shanghai. At the same time, it is found that excessive concentration of tourist flows within limited areas leads to a number of negative consequences, such as infrastructure overload, rising service prices, growing social tensions, displacement of local urban functions, and increased anthropogenic pressure on cultural heritage sites. Using the examples of Venice, Athens, and Paris, it is demonstrated that overtourism is a controversial phenomenon combining substantial economic benefits with significant social, spatial, and cultural losses. It is argued that destination management requires a transition from policies of unrestricted growth in tourist flows to balanced regulation that takes into account territorial carrying capacity, the interests of local communities, and the need to preserve cultural and natural heritage. Three groups of global tourist destinations are identified depending on the nature of interaction between tourist flows, local communities, and world heritage sites. The practical significance of the study lies in deepening the theoretical understanding of overtourism and substantiating approaches to more effective management of popular tourist destinations.