Latest news with #overtourism
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fed-up Notting Hill residents paint famous colourful houses black to deter influencers
Notting Hill residents fed up with the numbers of influencers posing for photographs outside their properties are painting their colourful houses black to deter crowds. The west London neighbourhood draws hordes of visitors thanks to its 'Instagrammable' streets lined with pastel coloured houses, with residents complaining that tourists frequently take photos outside their front doors. Now, some of the residents on a colourful street have taken matters into their own hands by painting their pink and blue properties black to deter people from taking photographs. One has applied the tactic just to their door and the lower half of their home. They have also launched a campaign to encourage other residents with colourful houses on their street to follow their example. In a letter sent to neighbours, the residents explained: 'It's clear that the bright and contrasting house colours are a major draw for photographs for their social media accounts. 'While we all value the charm of our street, the unintended consequence has been a surge in disruptive tourism.' Speaking to overtourism - The Standard, one neighbour said: 'It's really invasive overtourism for no reason at all. We are not a museum. 'It happened during lockdown. This street has always had colours, but we have never had a problem. We must have come out on some influencer list somewhere. Everybody, like sheep, followed.' 'We don't have the facilities to cater for mass tourism. It's just a residential street. There are homes like this all over west London. I don't know why they come to this specific spot.' Residents have often found people climbing on their railings for photos, while some have said people have tried to come inside their homes. One said they have been asked by some tourists to go inside so as not to ruin their photo. They felt 'sadly obliged' to paint their home black after dealing with posers from '7am to after dark', according to The Standard. 'We hope to go back to colour eventually,' the resident said. 'We would have loved to keep the colour of our home. We painted it [in the first place].' Notting Hill is one of London's most popular neighbourhoods for tourists who flock to see its Portobello Market, popular pubs and pastel-coloured houses. While Richard Curtis' Notting Hill film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts from 1999 continues to bring crowds of tourists to the romantic movie's key locations in the neighbourhood, residents now blame the role of social media for the surge in tourists. Residents share stories of social media influencers bringing suitcases of outfits to take pictures on their doorsteps for the entire day, while others have set off smoke flares for their snaps and even pitch tents so they can change looks. A resident who has lived on the street for over 20 years told The Standard: 'People on the street have really struggled to rent [out their homes] because people come to their houses and see 200 people outside. 'You can not even walk down the street. You can not get past people. People tut at you and are rude if you try and get into your own house. 'I've even had things stolen from my car. It's just become a nightmare… When you're sitting in your living room it sounds like Oxford Street.' Other residents have fixed chains and ropes to their houses to stop people using their steps for their photographs, while a 'quiet zone' sign asks visitors to be considerate of residents and neighbours. Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith , deputy leader and lead member for culture of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said: 'Notting Hill is one of the most charming neighbourhoods in London, if not the country. It has a unique character with the world-famous Portobello market, brilliant local businesses, wonderful people and of course, very beautiful buildings. 'We love seeing visitors from all around the world, but we ask that they are respectful to the people who live here. Notting Hill is not only a tourist destination, it is also a community and the buildings are people's private homes. 'Our street enforcement team patrols the borough and where any behaviour is anti-social or constitutes a nuisance and we can intervene, then we will take action.'
Travel Weekly
19 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Four islands, four approaches to Airbnb
Arnie Weissmann Of all the disrupters that have entered the travel industry so far in the 21st century, none has been as disruptive -- and ubiquitous -- as Airbnb. Hospitality companies that must adhere to strict local development guidelines and pay bed taxes have begged regulating jurisdictions to level the playing field by addressing unregulated vacation rentals. Communities that lost housing stock to Airbnb conversions have seen rents increase and the fabric of their neighborhoods thin. The residents of some cities blame the company for contributing to overtourism. Municipalities, even countries, have responded. This year Spain will implement regulations that include requiring that a permit be obtained before a property can become a vacation home. Oahu and New York have banned stays of less than 30 days. Amsterdam capped the number of nights a host can rent to 30 per year. Airbnb issues become more complicated for countries whose economies are tourism-dependent. This week was Caribbean Week, when tourism ministers and the heads of destination promotion bureaus descend on New York to raise awareness of their islands. In a series of back-to-back-to-back-to-back interviews with representatives of Caribbean islands, I found that they each looked at Airbnb's presence differently. Antigua and Barbuda was the most supportive of vacation rentals. "They are good for us," said the country's tourism minister, Max Fernandez. "We have seen a plethora of interest, and that means that a lot of people are getting involved in the industry. If you don't have people from all strata involved in tourism, especially in terms of ownership, then it's not sustainable, and sustainability is the key." To keep housing affordable as more properties convert to vacation rentals, Fernandez said the government is supporting a large-scale home-building initiative. "It's about creating a balance," he added. Airbnb serves another supportive role, Fernandez believes. "In economic downturns, the high-end is less likely to be affected. But at the same time, we believe that short-term rental properties like Airbnb can offer the kind of mix to make it balance out," he said. "That's the way we are looking at it." On Anguilla, vacation rentals are regulated for two reasons, tourism minister Cardigan Connor said. First, they are monitored to see if they meet required standards, and second, guest information is gathered to help keep track of where visitors are staying in case of a hurricane. "Anything that happens on the island is a responsibility of government," Connor said. "And as long as proprietors of the Airbnb properties understand that, then they know we're protecting each other as well as guests." St. Martin -- the French side of the island -- creates its balance by actively looking for unregistered vacation rentals but in some instances allowing them to operate in neighborhoods where they're not supposed to be. "We need 3,500 rooms," said St. Martin tourism minister Valerie Damaseau. "We see that there's a lot of purchasing of villas and vacation rental homes. They're listed [on Airbnb's platform] but are registered to us as their personal home. We know that some are not fully paying their taxes. "So we have several teams that visit these sites; they're just going to show up," she continued. "The situation exists, and we want to structure it. We don't want visitors who stay in these properties to say that they're not good, so we can assist the homeowner to make sure that the product is as renovated as possible and that it has the amenities that everyone is seeking." Many of the St. Martin vacation rentals are in areas where they're forbidden to be, but Damaseau is not shutting them down. "We're working on some text to try to regulate them," she said. "We need those rooms to bring [the island inventory] up to 3,500. We shut our eyes because those extra rooms have saved us over the years. We'll tighten the screws a little, but we need to find the right balance." "Villas are a tricky one," said Turks and Caicos tourism minister Zhavargo Jolly. "It's a catch-22. We're a high-end luxury destination, but we get six or seven people staying in a villa because it's less expensive than six or seven hotel rooms. But then they can't afford the amenities that generate the [per person] revenue we expect. And they complain about the affordability of the island." Paul Pennicook, CEO of Experience Turks & Caicos, added that it's one reason they are focusing on the travel trade, which doesn't typically attract the same clients as Airbnb. "Also, with the Airbnb scenario, we're not ever sure that everyone is paying their fair share of taxes. But I had a discussion with Airbnb and got a commitment that they were willing to collect taxes for us," he said. "But they're not prepared to give us the details about who they collected the taxes from; they'll just send a lump sum. My attitude is: just take the money."
The Sun
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Fed-up millionaires paint iconic colourful homes BLACK to put off crowds of influencers posing outside on their doorstep
DISGRUNTLED millionaires have painted their famous colourful houses black to put off hoards of nosy tourists. Residents of Hillgate Village, in Notting Hill, have become swamped by influencers posing outside their multi-million pound pastel coloured houses. 10 10 10 Locals open their curtains in the morning and see tourists peering back at them. At times they're forced to shoo visitors away from their doorsteps as holidaymakers stop for snaps. Some residents compared living on the iconic street to being trapped inside "Disneyland or the zoo". In busy summer months up to 60 people can be found gathered outside the brightly coloured houses. Many tourists mistake the area as the set location of Richard Curtis' Notting Hill. As a form of retaliation, homeowners are now painting their properties black and dark blue - so they won't be quite as Instagrammable. As reported by The Standard, a letter was sent among residents which read: 'It's clear that the bright and contrasting house colours are a major draw for photographs for their social media accounts. "While we all value the charm of our street, the unintended consequence has been a surge in disruptive tourism.' One anonymous neighbour said: 'It's really invasive overtourism for no reason at all. We are not a museum. 'It happened during lockdown. This street has always had colours, but we have never had a problem. "We must have come out on some influencer list somewhere. Everybody, like sheep, followed." The fed-up local said there are hoards of tourists arriving "every 30 seconds" which leads to rubbish piling up on the street. Those homeowners who work from home are also often distracted with the level of noise. The resident highlighted how there isn't enough infrastructure to accommodate the "mass tourism". As well as opting for a different paint colour, others have installed chains and warning signs. Another neighbour added: 'Our message is that London has amazing stuff to go and see. "There are amazing museums, amazing parks, and places that cater for tourism. This is just a residential street where people are trying to live their lives.' 10 10 10 10 Since adding a fresh lick of paint to the properties, residents say there has been less footfall. But, it hasn't solved the nightmare ordeal - which sometimes sees locals barging past up to 150 tourists gathered in front of their house. Some influencers have also been known to pitch up a tent on the street. In a particularly disturbing incident, a 'pornographic photoshoot' was even filmed on the street, claimed one resident. "People are not conscious or aware that there are humans living in these houses trying to live their lives,' one Notting Hill resident added. 'It's incredibly disruptive. It's been horrendous. Another local told how the mass tourism has negatively impacted their ability to rent out houses. 'People tut at you and are rude if you try and get into your own house," they added. Other have even had personal items nicked from their cars. 'It's just become a nightmare… When you're sitting in your living room it sounds like Oxford Street," continued the neighbour. Why are the homes in Hillgate Village pastel coloured? The brick and stucco homes have only become pastel coloured after WW2 as the area has become increasingly affluent. Kensington & Chelsea council has since designated Hillgate Village a 'character area'. There remains some homes in the village which have the original brickwork exposed. The area was once described as a "slum" and the homes were lived in by brick makers, blacksmiths, and coach drivers. Hillgate was nicknamed 'The Racks' and had a rough reputation for a century, until the area become popular in the post-war period. This comes after the most "instagrammable" house on the street went on sale for £1.25million - and the owner is gutted to see the pink pad go. Eccentric property developer and reality star Malcom Wood, 66, owns the 871-square-foot social media sensation and says he's spotted a fair share of influencers on his doorstep. The Bankrobber house on Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill, is supposedly the most photographed house in London. Unfortunately Malcom is letting it go due to tax hikes, but he said he'll definitely miss the tourist hotspot. 'It's had more than 2,000 women who have had their photo taken outside," he said. 'They're always there, when I stayed there for a little while, every time I'd look out my window they'd wave at me. 'Sometimes they'll want to throw a party - one influencer paid me £4,000 for one night.' Malcolm has since moved out of his party house and it's been used mostly on Airbnb for £300 a night. A quick search of "The Pink House" online will drag up thousands of pictures of models, influencers and tourists posted outside the pink plot. Other swanky houses in the area certainly seemed to get some attention too. A neighbour on the road said her home has received its fair share of internet fame as well. She said: "We get a few for sure, people taking pictures outside but it's not too hectic - because it's everywhere in London. "You walk down the street and there's always people taking pictures. Our front house as well, it's kind of the usual thing. "In peak season you'd probably get 10 a day maybe." Robbie Williams, Harry Styles, and Hugh Grant are just a few of the Hollywood stars who are rumoured to live in the city's infamously posh spot. With three high-ceilinged floors, a secret top floor, and two secret basement floors, the houses along Lonsdale Road are said to boast six levels altogether. The famous London joint was so popular it used to exhibit works by Banksy, Russell Young, Pete Doherty and Ronnie Kray. For this reason, it was nicknamed The Bankrobber House. It's since been repainted to the recognisable hot pink it is now. 'CONSTANT MURMURING' Meanwhile, other residents have previously spoken to The Sun about the tourism issue. 40-year local David, who only wanted his first name used, wished the tourists would leave. He said tourists had only been coming to his street since the pandemic. "There were not many people four years ago, now we get hundreds a day, what's it going to be like in five years time? "I'd rather they went away... and I worry about what happens if the trend continues." David said that more tourists came during summer, but in the last year or so many people were arriving at 8am even during rainy winter days. "There was a day two Saturdays ago when it was not so sunny, it felt like a crowded street and I counted 50 people. "If you're trying to work during the day and you open your window there's a constant murmuring. "They might be going up to Portobello Road or on their way to Holland Park, but why here particularly?" And, Grandad Peter Lee who lives in a pink home, has had scantily clad X-rated photo shoots on his door step. Despite the posers damaging his steps, he's never had a problem but says it's about time they ask permission. The 78-year-old told The Sun: "It's virtually everyday and all day, it's worse than ever." 10 10
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Another holiday hotspot cracks down on overtourism
From 1 June to 30 September, Ibiza is capping the daily number of vehicles used by non-residents at 20,168 to combat overtourism. Of the vehicle permits, 16,000 are for rental cars, and 4,168 are for private tourist vehicles arriving by ferry, which require a €1 (84p) daily permit obtained online. Caravans must show proof of campsite booking and are banned from wild camping or unauthorised parking. The Ibiza Island Council introduced the cap to promote sustainable tourism, aligning with Balearic government goals. Motorcycles are exempt. Mallorca has also introduced restrictions, with Soller implementing "residents only" traffic zones, prohibiting hire cars from driving through its historic centre.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ibiza caps tourist cars and caravans to control crowds this summer
Holidaymakers using hire cars will face new restrictions in Ibiza this summer amid an island crackdown on overtourism. From 1 June to 30 September, the daily number of vehicles used by non-residents will be capped at 20,168. According to Euronews, 16,000 of the 20,168 vehicle permits will be given to rental cars operating on the island. The other 4,168 permits are reserved for private tourist vehicles arriving via ferry from ports including Barcelona, Palma and Valencia. These vehicles will need to apply for a permit – €1 (84p) per day – online before they travel to Ibiza during peak season. Caravans are also included in the new rules, with travellers required to show proof of a campsite booking before they enter. The vehicles will no longer be allowed onto the island for wild camping or unauthorised parking. Consell Insular d'Eivissa, the Ibiza Island Council, introduced the cap in line with Balearic government goals to promote more sustainable tourism. As it stands, motorcycles are exempt from Ibiza's seasonal vehicle restrictions. The popular Balearic island has around 160,000 residents but welcomes more than 3.6 million tourists annually. As of 2023, there were 160,835 vehicles on the island – over a vehicle per person – which is a 78.1 per cent increase since 2003, according to the Ibiza Sustainability Report 2023. Ibiza isn't the first Balearic island to show a red light to rental vehicles. Tourists visiting one of Mallorca 's most popular towns will no longer be allowed to drive through its historic centre after 'residents only' traffic zones were introduced. The local council in Soller aims to ease traffic with designated areas exclusively for vehicles registered to residents across 12 of its busiest streets.
