A PICTURESQUE village dubbed “the UK’s Venice” is being destroyed by “TikTok tourists”, according to a councillor.
Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds is bombarded by 300,000 visitors every year, and officials say they are “exploiting the destination for clicks”.
A picturesque village dubbed “the UK’s Venice” is being destroyed by “TikTok tourists”, according to a councillor[/caption]
Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds is bombarded by 300,000 visitors every year, and officials say they are “exploiting the destination for clicks”[/caption]
Cotswold district councillor Jon Wareing says he is fed up of watching holidaymakers use the stunning scenery as a backdrop for social media reels or selfies.
“This kind of visitor tends to have little real interest in the heritage, culture or natural environment they are exploiting for clicks. They are the ultimate hit-and-run tourist,” he told BBC.
He said that residents have been abused verbally and physically by the influencers, who he also blames for traffic congestion.
Litter has also become a huge problem in the area, especially on the village’s famous green.
“It’s a combination of over-tourism and fast tourism, which refers to people flocking to honeypot locations for the sole purpose of content creation,” he said.
The councillor said that the most recent bank holiday weekend was the perfect example of ‘overtourism’ in the area.
“This is so destructive for our community and is deeply worrying,” he added.
He has been fighting to get the council to accept that tourism was a problem for the village since May 2024.
The notion was rejected by six votes to four.
Earlier this year, there were proposals of a bus ban to help tackle the parking issues faced by residents.
But businesses said the ban would hit trade and could turn the picture postcard village into a “ghost-town”.
A new temporary solution for a “drop off” point has been backed by officials.
But some coach companies fear the Meadow Way location is “not safe” and is too far to walk to the village centre.
One firm – Middleton Tours – who regularly carried out visits to the village has been forced to rethink its plans due to concerns over the trial and a recent incident where a resident shouted at one of its tour guides and passengers.
Tour manager Richard Smith previously told the BBC: “The site that they have chosen is right at the junction so it’s not safe.
“There is no shelter and no signage. There is apparently the provision for three coaches.
“Anybody that knows Bourton-on-the-Water, particularly during the main season, knows how busy it can get.
“It’s ill-thought-through and could be prone to operational disasters.
“Until there is a solution that works for the customer and coach operators, we have made the decision not to return to Bourton-on-the-Water.”
The parish council voted to back a proposal designed to address the shortage of parking facilities following the closure of a privately-owned site in 2023.
Under the scheme coaches would pick up and drop off passengers in a designated on-street parking bay on Meadow Way.
Buses would then leave Meadow Way after 10 minutes and head to an industrial estate where parking will be available.
Ron Wellard, 77, retired fitter who has lived in Bourton for 50 years said: “Everyone agrees that it’s a stupid idea, putting it next to an old people’s home.
“The old Co-op would have been better. I can’t imagine people living next to the coach parking lane right next door won’t be too happy about it, like the people living next door to the old coach park.
“But that’s people for you, they buy a house next to a coach park and then moan about the coaches coming past.
“You can come here in the summer, it’s heaving with tourists, then after seven o’clock at night it’s a ghost town. But they don’t live here you see.
“It’s like living at the seaside, you never go to the sea if you live at the coast – it’s tourists.
”I want the tourists to come of course, I’m very much live and let live, but they’d mind if I was constantly in Birmingham as a tourist.”
Locals say they are unable to park in their village due to the high levels of tourism[/caption]
Earlier this year, there were proposals of a bus ban to help tackle the parking issues faced by residents[/caption]