Our Overtourism Policy
Background & approach
Media headlines and tourism data have been clear on the negative impact of overtourism; a 2018 report commissioned by the European Parliament found that the potential effects are severely putting both natural and cultural heritage sites at risk through a mix of environmental, economic and social factors, with coastal regions, islands and rural sites among the most vulnerable destinations.
As a business, we are contributing to the negative impact if we continue to send visitors to over-subscribed destinations without putting some measures in place that alleviate the pressure. With this policy, we aim to demonstrate one way in which a travel company can provide a solution and sensitivity to a complex problem and encourage others to look to implement their own solutions.
We have decided to cap the number of properties we represent in locations that have a problem with overtourism, and where second homes used as holiday lets are impacting local communities. Although capping Sawday’s / Canopy & Stars properties won’t solve overtourism, it does demonstrate an acknowledgement of the problem and that we are taking action to improve the situation.
Travel and accommodation companies placing limitations will help mitigate over-demand. While this approach may increase prices and make it less accessible to those on lower incomes, a targeted strategy to promote less visited places will help, as will encouraging travellers to opt for often cheaper and less busy periods. What is clear is that doing nothing is no longer an option, even at a cost to our business, in the same way that flights using sustainable or green hydrogen fuel cost more but should become the norm. Some cities, such as Dubrovnik, have started capping the number of cruise ship calls, so this is an approach already applied by destinations. We are proud to be the first company to cap the number of places to stay in an affected destination.
Our impact may seem small through this policy, but we are aiming to inspire other travel and accommodation companies to consider reducing capacity and place self-imposed caps on their numbers of properties or bed numbers in affected destinations. National, regional and local councils, governments and tourist boards need to play their part with a range of measures to counter this problem as we are only a tiny part of solving this complex issue.
In addition to capping, we’ll provide information to guests to help them make informed decisions about responsible tourism and how they can help reduce overtourism. In this, we’re glad to have the excellent example of Responsible Travel, who produced this superb programme, to follow.
The caps we are introducing
We will cap by the number of properties, rather than beds. Our policy includes all types of places to stay. The number of places capped are shown below and each Sawday’s brand will have their own limits. If an owner features a place with two or more brands, this will only be counted once. Any arbitration will be carried out by our Sustainability & Impact Manager.
Sawday’s
Isle of Skye (18) – A remote area with a significant impact on local services, traffic and congestion, parking, litter, path erosion and overcrowding at places like Fairy Pools
Lake District National Park (40) – A rural area with impact on communities such as traffic, parking issues, pollution, litter and shops catering to tourists not locals. Second home holiday lets are also an impact.
Snowdonia National Park (8) – The area is attracting more tourists than the community can cope with and high numbers of second home holiday lets contribute to this. The impact includes litter, footpath erosion, wild camping, traffic levels and parking problems. In the summer of 2021, the conservation charity Snowdonia Society removed 1033kg of litter left on mountainsides and in lay-bys.
St Ives (5) – During peak holiday and summer periods there is an impact on traffic, parking and overcrowded areas.
Mousehole (5) – In peak times there is an impact on traffic, parking, overcrowding and a strain on infrastructure (including a lack of EV points locally), in what is a charming but tiny town.
Salcombe (5) – An impact on traffic, parking, overcrowded areas. There are real issues with affordable housing for locals with 57% being second homes, driving up the price of properties for locals and forcing younger working people and families out of the town.
St Minver Lowlands and Highlands (Rock and Polzeath) (5) – 70% of places are registered as second homes with locals saying they can no longer afford to live in the area.
Southwold, Suffolk (3) – High levels of second homes, many used as lets. Real issues with affordable housing for locals with the house price/earnings ratio being very high, and only a small percentage of population are under 25. One development that was built 10 years ago with 38 affordable homes now has 90% of the affordable units owned as second homes and holiday lets. Of the 498 houses sold in the town between 2006 and 2016 only 24% were occupied by permanent residents. The remaining 76% have become holiday lets or second homes.
Abersoch, Wales (3) – 600 people in winter live there, 30,000 in summer. High property prices, driven by the demand for second homes/holiday lets, means many young families have moved out and the impact is significant. Over 40% of homes are second homes/holiday lets
Venice (16) – Too many people including day trip visitors mean there is overcrowding and a dwindling local population. There is damage to monuments and bridges, polluted canals and erosion of the culture and way of life.
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre (3) – Overcrowded villages and pathways, partly due to cruise passengers bused in from La Spezia. Litter, damage, noise, graffiti are all issues.
Palma de Mallorca (5) – High levels of second homes, many used as lets.
Florence (5) – Overcrowded streets, venues, attractions and high levels of second homes, many used as lets.
Barcelona (5) – High property inflation with locals being forced out of areas by holiday apartments.
Canopy & Stars
Isle of Skye (6)
Lake District National Park (20)
Snowdonia National Park (8)
Paws & Stay
Isle of Skye (3)
Lake District National Park (10)
Snowdonia National Park (5)
St Ives (3)
Mousehole (3)
Salcombe (3)
St Minver Lowlands and Highlands (3)
Southwold, Suffolk (2)
Abersoch, Wales (2)
Ongoing management
Our destination caps mean we will not be able to increase the number of spaces in the areas listed above. It may mean we have to stop representing an existing place before accepting a new one; we will consider the environmental and ethical standards of competing places before making any decision.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and over time, we may add additional destinations or review the numbers as the situation evolves.