Intrepid offers ‘lesser-known’ destinations to tackle over-tourism

Off the beaten track destinations such as the Abta Travel Convention venue of the Azores, Finland, North Cyprus, Moldova and the Tatra Mountains in Poland are being introduced by Intrepid Travel for 2018.

The small group adventure operator is also doubling off-season departures in Europe.

The aim is to help curb over-tourism in more traditional European destinations and supports the company’s commitment to responsible tourism.

Over-tourism is a growing issue in many destinations across the world, such as Barcelona and Venice.

More than 799,916 tourists from 539 cruises visited the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Dubrovnik in 2016, a 13.5% increase on the previous year that has led to growing tensions among locals and tourists on the over-crowded streets.

Intrepid CEO James Thornton said the new itineraries were developed in response to concerns about over-tourism and travellers’ desire to get away from the masses and to uncover new destinations.

“Europe is a firm favourite with our customers, so we’re constantly on the look-out for new ways to explore the continent by adding unique itineraries and new destinations,” he said.

“Over-tourism has become a real issue in many of the world’s most beautiful cities and it’s impacting the experience for locals and for travellers, so in 2018 we’re encouraging travellers to consider the alternatives, and look beyond the typical destinations.

“Responsible travel is about making choices that benefit not only the tourists but also the local people while respecting their cultures, economy and the environment too.

“The global tourism industry is growing rapidly, but not always sustainably. We need to work harder to tell travellers about lesser-known destinations that are just as worthy of your time.”