Local authorities have promised to resolve the issue”overtourism nightmare” tormenting Bourton-in-the-watera village plagued by bus parking chaos and angry visitors.
The idyllic village, often referred to as the “Venice of Cotswolds‘, is so crowded with tourists that the council has stopped promoting it.
The vision of crowds of tourists It’s nothing new for Bourton, but this year the closure of the designated bus parking area has worsened traffic and parking problems.
Locals have expressed their frustrations at the bus parking chaos, which caused traffic nightmares and even “threats of violence” from disgruntled visitors during peak times earlier this year.
The problem of over-tourism in Bourton was acknowledged by District Council leaders at the most recent full council meeting.
Councillor Jon Wareing has called on council leaders to commit to sustainable tourism in the village.
Mr Wareing said: “The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines overtourism as ‘the impact of tourism on a destination, or parts thereof, that influences the quality of life perceived by citizens and/or quality of visitors’ experiences in a negative way’
“The cabinet member responsible for the economy and transformation of the council agrees with me that Bourton-on-the-Water suffers from overtourism based on that?
“And he will be committed to ensuring that Bourton can develop an approach to sustainable tourism, whilst also building a more resilient economy with retail services for Bourton residents and the wider North Cotswolds?
“This should include prioritizing parking for residents and seeking support for visitor parking traffic on the outskirts of the village.”
Council leader Joe Harris said he shared concerns about overtourism in Bourton-on-the-Water. He said the village was a popular destination, evidenced by the high footfall of visitors.
Mr Harris responded: “While we do not have specific survey data on perceptions of overtourism, we recognise the strong feelings among residents regarding the negative impacts on their quality of life due to excessive visitor numbers. Balancing the needs of local businesses that benefit from tourism with the quality of life of residents is crucial.”
He revealed that his administration has already taken preliminary steps to address the issue, including the implementation of a tourism tax on parking specifically designated for initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of tourism on the village and promoting the dispersion of visitors and public transportation.
However, he admitted that more comprehensive measures were needed to tackle the problem and confirmed that the chief executive would arrange a meeting with Councillor Wareing to discuss the issue and develop effective strategies for the village.
He added: “Cotswold District Council is reviewing its parking strategy to optimise the use of council assets for the benefit of residents and the local economy.
“Input was sought from residents, city and parish councils and visitors to address immediate and long-term needs.”