Rural depopulation and people being pushed out of areas owing to the spread of tourism are significant issues facing modern Europe. The scale of the problems is enormous. Over the past decade, many rural regions across the continent, mainly in eastern and southern Europe, have recorded population declines exceeding 10%, and in some cases even getting close to 30%.
Meanwhile, overtourism is having profound impacts on the population too. To take an example, a town like Capri, Italy, welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors each year, creating overwhelming pressure on its infrastructure.
Vicious circle of depopulation
Mayors and councillors at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities took up these issues at its current session in Strasbourg.
"Most people don't leave rural areas because they prefer to but because they have to," stated co-rapporteur Eke Folkerts, who is a regional minister for Friesland in the Netherlands. "However, rural exodus is not inevitable. By combining local knowledge and leadership with strong support from higher levels of government, we can create new opportunities for rural regions." Her comments came during the presentation of the report "Regional exodus in Europe: addressing the causes and creating new opportunities for rural communities".
The report points out that the scale of the challenge is significant. As populations shrink, local economies lose workers and skills, community life weakens and public services become harder to sustain, which creates a vicious circle that will further accelerate depopulation where service levels are found insufficient.
High-speed internet, training, housing, services
"There is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution, as the problems of a remote mountain hamlet are not those of a commuter village. We need tailored, place-based approaches designed with and by local people, including younger generations", added co-rapporteur Urs Janett, who is part of the government of the Canton of Uri in Switzerland.
Following the debate, the Congress has adopted a resolution on addressing the causes of rural exodus and creating new opportunities for rural communities. The Congress stressed that key priorities of local and regional authorities must include investing in transport infrastructure and high-speed internet, maintaining and expanding education and vocational training offers, supporting business development and job creation, and ensuring access to affordable housing and other essential services.
Overtourism driving away families
At a separate Congress debate on "How can we preserve the vitality of European regions threatened by overtourism or the exodus of their residents", a similar problem was being discussed, caused in this case by success.
In Saint-Tropez in France, 70% of residences are second homes, driving families out of the city. Its mayor, Sylvie Siri, is seeking legal and fiscal solutions from the state to preserve this human capital. Meanwhile, packed Capri Mayor Paolo Falco is calling for greater powers to regulate visitor numbers.
Overtourism and depopulation: a perfect storm
Rethinking tourism also means giving residents a voice. Ara Borg-Aquilina, a youth delegate to the Congress from Malta, cited initiatives in Copenhagen, which encourages exploring the city by bike, and in Barcelona, which restricts holiday rentals. Others advocated for 'slow tourism', prioritising the discovery of local areas over their rapid consumption.
Overtourism and depopulation can, paradoxically, affect the same areas: visitors flock in whilst residents leave. But the exodus also affects regions far removed from the tourist circuit. Māris Sprindžuks, Deputy Mayor of Riga, described a vicious circle: fewer residents, more expensive services, followed by further departures. Affordable housing, employment and security are essential to breaking this cycle.
From these contrasting situations there is a shared response: to secure recognition of a genuine "right to stay at home". The Congress is cognisant that the future of a region is measured by its ability to offer prospects to those who live there, and is pushing local, regional and national authorities to take action.
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