Hallstat residents are calling for a limit on the number of daily tourists. Hallstat gets as many as 10,000 tourists a day versus the 700 residents.
BBC News - Hallstatt: Austrian town protests against mass tourism
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66634889
Number of tourists per rersident in a year:
Hallstatt 1785
Venice 35
Salzburg 12
I read the article last week about how the town had erected a fence to block some of the scenery that was causing a disruption by people standing around taking photos. The fence was eventually taken down due to a "social media backlash," but I haven't been able to find any stories on exactly what was said on social media that caused the town to back down. I wonder if it got vicious or just a sheer volume of protests?
I think residents in any tourist town get annoyed at the increase in traffic, rudeness and the overall affects of their way of life. What is always interesting to note in these articles is that hardly ever is there a business owner complaining.
Everyone should visit Hallstatt at least once. Unfortunately, 4:00pm until 10:00am is the best time to enjoy it. Grab a picnic lunch and a ferry to Obertraun and enjoy the other side of the lake from 11:00 to 4:00. Much less crowded, but the views are great.
"Mass Tourism" I was happy to visit Hallstatt years ago, in large part due to Rick. In my latter years mass tourism is a situation to avoid. I can feel for the residents who have had their fill. The back door here was kicked in and stomped on years ago.
On Sunday, locals blocked the main access tunnel to the village in a protest against overtourism.
The tunnel was closed for about 15 minutes, Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten reported.
About 100 people gathered for the protest, carrying placards with slogans such as "Now an emergency brake. Or we will be run over"; "Think of our children" and "Radical frontiers for mass tourism".
I had to check, but it has been over three years now (March 2020) that Austria closed hotels to tourism and sent folks home due to COVID. The residents in Hallstatt had a reprieve from mass tourism. Probably the quietest then for many people in Hallstatt in their lifetime. COVID changed a lot of things.
I figure they have some sort of democratic process, and if the majority wanted to reduce tourism, they could and would.
I agree that changes can be made by mutual agreement. I can’t remember the last time I visited a town where almost everything closes at 8:00pm, including the grocery store. And all the restaurants require cash only - but other shops don’t. That means all of them are on the same page. And leads me to believe other changes are possible, if that is a group consensus.
I understand how the locals feel. I was there in 2021 (during Covid) and it was overrun by tourists, some of whom were very rude. Parking spots were hard to find (I had a rental car).
As the world population increases and more tourists travel, I think more and more small towns will have this.
Smarter minds than mine may hit upon a solution.
TexasTravelMom - 8:00 is late for a grocery store anywhere in Austria.
Good to know, Emily - shows how often I actually get to a market at night when I travel.
TTM apparently the majority close at 8pm. Does seem a bit early. Come visit here, the Spar Markets stay open until 9 and some 10pm. The ABC markets usually till midnight or 24 hours.
And all other non-grocery shops are typically closed by 6 or 7 pm (earlier on Saturday) and not open at all on Sundays. When I moved here years ago, the grocery stores closed at 5:30 or 6:00, so I consider 8:00 a real luxury (and note that many still do close by 7 or 7:30). It is very challenging to fit shopping into daily life. I ran out of baby diapers once on a Sunday. There is ONE store in all of Vienna that is allowed to sell non-food convenience items. Can you imagine?
Actually, Japan was much like that where I lived a number of years ago and had my first two babies. All stores closed by 7:00. It was a mental shift to adjust but then it was normal and nice.
Also the market in Hallstatt actually closed at 7, too. 😊 I went at 6:45 - the only evening shopping I have ever done in Austria.
This is so sad, when I went with my group on the GAS tour in 2019, it was crowded and it was the shoulder season. Such a beautiful little town and I hope they can get things under control and find a harmonius balance between residents and tourists.
I absolutely sympathize with their situation.
