Austria's Hallstatt and Salzburg grapple with overtourism

Austria recorded a tourism record in 2024 with more than 154 million overnight stays, prompting a surge of day‑tourists in historic sites such as Salzburg’s Altstadt and the lakeside village of Hallstatt. Residents describe the crowds as "aggressive" and overwhelming. In Hallstatt, a settlement of about 800 people, up to 35 coach buses arrive each day – a reduction from 100 previously – but locals say even 6,000 daily visitors would be too many. Salzburg’s old town merchants and the cathedral sacristan report litter, noise and damage to heritage buildings, while former mayor Harald Preuner acknowledges the strain on the community. The situation has sparked calls for limits on mass day‑tourism and for measures to protect the cultural landscape and quality of life for locals.