Overtourism in the idylls of rural England is in the headlines again due to complaints put to a Cotswolds village council. Bourton-on-the-Water, often referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” thanks to the five historic bridges slung over the River Windrush, is suffering from “significant pressure,” according to a parish council statement, after “a surge in tourists and a spike in litter.”
Home to just 4,000 resident villagers but receiving up to 300,000 visitors annually and “increased visitor numbers this year”, authorities in Bourton-on-the-Water have pointed out that “tourism brings economic benefits,” but are also ready to acknowledge the “challenges that require coordinated and sustained efforts to be managed effectively.”
At a recent meeting, council leader Joe Harris recognised the “strong sentiments of residents regarding the negative impacts on their quality of life due to excessive visitor numbers,” and said: “Balancing the needs of local businesses benefiting from tourism with the quality of life of residents is crucial.”
Local grievances stemming from the sheer volume of arrivals include traffic congestion and increased wear-and-tear on infrastructure, such as potholes, signage, and lighting in the streets. But anti-social behaviour is high on the list too after an increase in rubbish, especially takeaway food packaging and items left by picnickers, and dog owners failing to clean up behind their pets. Verbal abuse has also been recorded.
Recently, district councillor Jon Wareing raised issues around parking at a municipal meeting and has blamed Instagram selfie-takers and TikTok-inspired visitors for many of the problems. “This kind of visitor tends to have little real interest in the heritage, culture or natural environment they are exploiting for clicks,” he said, adding: “They are the ultimate hit-and-run tourist.”
@charlieves12 The #beauty of the #cotswolds is overshadowed by mass tourism. #tourist #gloucestershire #bourton_on_the_water #england #visitengland #southwest #village #busy #outdoor #solofemaletraveler #travel #traveltiktok ♬ Airplane Mode – Outer Circle
Authorities in the village say they have no control over tourist numbers and that their hands are tied by limitations on their statutory powers. However, they insist they are working with partners such as Cotswold District Council and Gloucestershire County Council to address residents’ concerns.
Proposals on the table include increasing refuse collections from two to three times per day at weekends, as well as traffic flow and parking measures to ease coach and car bottlenecks.
With the Cotswolds in the news this summer thanks to a visit from United States Vice President Vance, Bourton-on-the-Water is not the only village in the region to claim visitors are causing trouble in paradise. Picturesque Bibury has already begged visitors to arrive in smaller vehicles and has gone as far as restricting coach access amid what local powers have called “intolerable and unacceptable” pressure. And in Castle Combe, villagers have complained that tourists have invaded their privacy by flying drones overhead, even filming locals in their bathrooms.
