Tired of the heat and the crowds? Make responsible choices this summer and protect local communities!

Overtourism isn’t just about crowded beaches. It has deeper social and environmental consequences, exacerbated by summer heatwaves. Due to high residential and tourist consumption, many islands and southern regions have to restrict water usage. Constantly running air conditioners lead to frequent power outages. The displacement of local residents creates ongoing tensions, as property prices and rents skyrocket due to short-term rentals, leaving locals unable to maintain a liveable environment.

Tourism becomes a burden when it destroys more value in a community than it adds economically. If a local resident can’t get to work because of overcrowded buses, or if the local well runs dry because hotel pools need filling, tourism has reached the limits of sustainability. As a responsible traveller, your conscious choices directly contribute to ensuring that locals see visitors as a value, not a burden, and that their homes remain liveable.

If you only have two weeks of holiday all year, the last thing you want is stress and crowds. Instead of overcrowded Mediterranean hotspots, you can choose cooler, more sustainable alternatives, known as Coolcation destinations, which ease the pressure on the exhausted southern regions. Instead of Mallorca or Malta, Estonia and the Baltics offer pleasant 22–25°C temperatures, untouched bog forests, quiet beaches, and sustainable infrastructure. Instead of the Amalfi Coast, the Slovenian Julian Alps provide cool mountain air, crystal-clear rivers, and protected national parks. And instead of the heat of the Greek islands, the Scottish Highlands and the Orkney Islands guarantee zero heat and rich ecotourism opportunities.

For responsible travellers, the opportunities within the region also offer extraordinary experiences, making the Carpathian Mountains a worthwhile destination. The peaks of the Slovak High Tatras or the Polish High Tatras and Bieszczady offer crystal-clear air, shaded pine forests, and cool mountain lakes. Transylvania’s high mountains, such as the Făgăraș or Parâng ranges, boast unspoiled wildlife, welcoming local communities, and breathtaking hiking trails where you can escape the fatigue of summer heat.

As responsible travellers, our everyday decisions and choice of destinations directly shape the future of tourism. Instead of capitals and social media hotspots, it’s worth opting for lesser-known, secondary destinations, helping to distribute the tourism load. To conserve local resources, it’s reasonable to set the air conditioning to 24°C instead of 18°C and avoid wasting water. To support the local economy, shop from local producers, dine in family-run restaurants, and, if possible, travel outside the peak season in spring or autumn. The choice is in our hands: travel consciously this summer and choose destinations where your presence is not a burden but a genuine value to the locals!