A couple of foreign tourists described their visit to Portugal as “horrible” and guarantee that they do not intend to return to the country. The experience, lived in the city of Porto, was marked by crowds, long queues and intense heat, a scenario that transformed the initial enthusiasm into a great disappointment.
According to the report shared by travelers to the North American regional newspaper, the couple returned from Portugal after their second big trip of the year and were hoping for a peaceful getaway. However, the two tourists found an overcrowded city, with streets full of visitors and endless queues to enter monuments and cafes. “We were packed in between thousands of tourists, under the scorching sun. It was horrible,” he said.
Impact of mass tourism
The phenomenon of “overtourism”, which has been affecting cities such as Barcelona, Venice or Dubrovnik, is also leaving its mark on Portuguese destinations such as Porto and Lisbon. Popularity on social media and growing exposure on platforms like TikTok have attracted flows of visitors far beyond the cities’ capacity to accommodate them, says the same source.
According to the article, Porto, promoted as an alternative to the capital, has become a tourist success story that is beginning to feel the effects of its fame. The iconic landscapes of Ribeira and Ponte Luís I are today among the most publicized places on social media, but also among the most congested.
Tourist pressure has changed local daily life and reduced the coexistence space between visitors and residents. “Tourists are looking for an authentic experience, but end up being swallowed up by the crowd and endless queues”, says the text.
Social networks and “selfie” tourism
Alpena News also highlights the role of social media in uncontrolled tourism growth. Lists of “must-see places” and digital influencers who post photos in iconic locations are turning trips into staged experiences.
The article cites examples of other destinations affected by this phenomenon, such as Venice, which faced protests during businessman Jeff Bezos’ wedding, or the English village of Bourton-on-the-Water, where so-called “TikTok tourists” are accused of ignoring local heritage in search of the perfect photograph.
Debates on sustainability and restrictive measures
Some European countries have sought to curb mass tourism through additional fees or access limitations. Rome, for example, banned sitting on the Spanish Steps or entering historic fountains, while other cities are considering similar restrictions, according to the same source.
In Slovenia, Italy and Spain, the need to redirect tourism to less explored areas is being discussed, preserving the authenticity of historic centers. Portugal has been promoting alternative destinations outside of Lisbon, but now faces the challenge of balancing the tourist economy with the well-being of local populations.
Porto at the center of the discussion
The testimony of this tourist couple who visited Portugal is just one example of a growing problem in several parts of Europe. Although tourism is essential for the economy, saturation during certain periods is affecting the experience of those who visit and the daily lives of those who live in cities.
The city, which remains among the most popular destinations in Portugal for tourists, faces the dilemma common to many historic European centers: preserving its cultural identity and quality of life, without alienating travelers who seek precisely this charm.
Also know, as a curiosity, that the Luís I Bridge was inaugurated in 1886 and that its metallic structure became one of Porto’s main visiting cards, attracting thousands of visitors every day, especially at sunset.
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