An Analysis of Overtourism in Hong Kong: Its Negative Impacts on Tourist Experiences and Locals
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Overtourism is one of the main problems faced by many destinations around the world. While national governments strive to increase tourism revenues and tourist numbers, they also seek ways to mitigate the negative effects of overtourism. Overtourism practices that exceed the carrying capacity of a region not only harm the environment but also lead to dissatisfaction in visitor experiences, causing a decline in the quality of life of the local population and leading them to oppose tourism development. This study investigates the negative effects of overtourism practices on tourist experiences and the local population in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China, which is the second most visited city in the world according to 2025 statistics. The methodology used is qualitative research, specifically literature review and observation. The results show that Hong Kong is exposed to overtourism practices, creating dissatisfaction by reducing visitor experiences, and that the local population reacts negatively to overtourism. Among the proposed solutions, it is emphasized that in order to ensure sustainable tourism development, different types of tourism should be developed and the pressure of tourism on certain regions should be reduced through smart tourism applications.
Institution: Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7165551632
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