Copenhagen Faces Overtourism Challenges as Tourist Arrivals Surge

Tourist arrivals in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, have surged in recent months as travelers increasingly choose this destination over more traditional hotspots. However, the growing demand has begun to reveal the effects of overtourism in the city, prompting local authorities to consider implementing tourist taxes.

"Overtourism is not an objective category; it’s more that people experience it’s too much, it’s subjective," stated Lars Fuglsang, a Professor of Social Sciences and Business at Roskilde University.

Copenhagen is among many European cities planning to introduce or already implementing tourist taxes, a trend closely linked to the phenomenon of overtourism that plagues popular destinations.

Professor Fuglsang highlighted that overtourism is increasingly impacting Copenhagen, particularly in the housing sector. "The risks of overtourism are that it’s difficult to get an apartment in the city because Airbnb takes over the market and house prices increase. Tourists take up public space and noise increases, as well as garbage in the city, so there can be a lot of problems, and I think the attention on this is growing also in Copenhagen."

The professor pointed out specific issues arising in the city, noting challenges such as tourists renting bikes without understanding traffic rules and the noise created by intoxicated visitors, which contrasts sharply with the quieter lives of local residents.

Starting in 2025, Portugal plans to implement a tourist tax, although specific details have yet to be disclosed. Meanwhile, other European countries like Italy and Greece have recently raised their tourist taxes.

In 2023, Denmark saw a significant rebound in tourism, surpassing pre-pandemic levels with 32.5 million visitors, reflecting a 12 percent increase compared to 2019. In the first half of 2024 alone, 25 million tourists visited Denmark, marking a record high for the Scandinavian nation. While many businesses in Denmark are eager to welcome visitors, the sentiment in Copenhagen is more mixed, with some residents expressing concerns about the implications of rising tourist numbers.

By fLEXI tEAM