Short stays are increasingly appealing to travelers, with 43% of French people opting for this type of getaway in 2024, according to the Opodo 2025 barometer. However, this trend exacerbates the overcrowding of certain destinations and raises questions about its environmental and economic impacts.
Since the resumption of tourism post-Covid, flows are concentrated in a limited number of destinations. Globally, 95% of tourists visit less than 5% of land areas, while in France, 80% of tourist activity is limited to 20% of the territory. This concentration generates pressure on the rental market, nuisances, and threats to heritage.
In response to this phenomenon, several cities have implemented restrictive measures. Marseille has established access quotas for the Calanques, Venice imposes an entry ticket, and Barcelona plans to ban Airbnb rentals within five years.
However, these short trips remain essential for the local economy. Many merchants and hoteliers benefit from this influx. For some travelers, these measures seem contradictory to the goal of reviving the economy, especially since the high costs of transportation in France encourage more people to turn to foreign destinations that are accessible at a lower cost.
The rise of short stays is also explained by the accessibility of low-cost transportation and a growing need for escape. In the face of overtourism challenges, platforms like Booking are developing tools based on artificial intelligence to propose less saturated alternative destinations.
Source: [bfmtv.com](https://rmc.bfmtv.com/actualites/societe/surtourisme-ecologie-economie-faut-il-interdire-les-courts-sejours_AN-202503190446.html)