Greece implements new policies to combat overtourism, New York Fashion Week wraps up, and climate change is impacting glacier tourism. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Glacier tourism gets riskier as the planet heats up
An ice cave in Iceland; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
With rising temperatures threatening the existence of natural formations like glaciers, a new term has emerged to describe the influx of visitors eager to see them before they disappear: “last chance tourism,” reports The New York Times. The booming market is particularly benefiting destinations like Iceland, where glacier tours now attract about half a million visitors each year. However, melting glaciers pose major risks, as meltwater can cause unstable formations that lead to rockfalls or landslides. A recent incident at Iceland’s Breidamerkurjokull glacier tragically underscored these dangers when a frozen arch collapsed during an ice cave tour, resulting in the death of an American tourist and the injury of another.
Burning Man installations channel the spirit of the desert
The waning crescent moon over the Temple of Together by Caroline Ghosn at Burning Man 2024; photo by Alexander Marvin
Each year, Black Rock City, Nevada draws thousands of visitors for the annual Burning Man event, where large-scale art and music installations are constructed and then ceremoniously burned at the end of the weeklong event. Designers bring their materials to the desert landscape to construct an array of sculptures, from wood-clad installations to high-tech, pyrotechnic displays. Many stood out this year, including a solar panel hub that allowed guests to charge their phones, a 60-foot-tall replica of a classic orange traffic cone, and Radial Sonic Runway, a series of 25 gateways that stretch into the distance, inviting participants to walk or bike through. Photographer and yearly attendee Gurpreet Chawla shared with Dezeen the 10 standout architectural installations at this year’s event.
Greece cracks down on overtourism
A cruise ship in Santorini, Greece; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
News coverage around overtourism dominated the headlines this summer. This was especially evident in destinations across Europe where residents staged anti-tourist protests because of mounting concerns about infrastructure strain, environmental stress, and rising real estate prices. The housing market in countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece has been particularly impacted, with locals being priced out of popular neighborhoods due to the rise of vacation rentals and foreign buyers. In response, Greece is implementing a slew of new rules, as reported by Forbes. These measures include cruise ship limits and higher docking fees for hotspots like Santorini, where 800 cruise ships brought 1.3 million passengers in last year alone (the island has only 15,500 residents). Additionally, Greece will address its real estate issues with policies such as an increased lodging tax for hotels and a yearlong ban on short-term rentals in select areas in Athens.
It’s a wrap on New York Fashion Week
Tommy Hilfiger showcased its spring collection in a decommissioned ferry at NYFW 2024; photo courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger
New York Fashion Week (NYFW) coincided with the U.S. Open this year, creating a star-studded spectacle that brought celebrities both to the catwalk and courtside. CNN spotlights the week’s memorable moments—from intricate, twisted metalwork dresses by Grace Ling to delicate chiffon neck scarves donned by models for Nepali-American designer Prabal Gurung. Designers also eschewed traditional stages for more unique venues. Luxury streetwear brand Off-White, for instance, held its show on the Brooklyn Pier basketball courts overlooking the Manhattan skyline, drawing the likes of singer Camila Cabello and U.S. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa Lee. Meanwhile, Tommy Hilfiger showcased its spring collection of nautical prep pieces inside a decommissioned Staten Island ferry, now permanently docked at the South Street Seaport.
Webinar: Dive into hotel development trends with Lodging Econometrics
Chengdu, China is among the cities with the largest hotel pipelines with 147 projects; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Join us on Thursday, September 26th at 2 p.m. ET for the Lodging Econometrics Global Forecast webinar. Hospitality Design’s editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen will speak with Bruce Ford, senior vice president and director of global business development at Lodging Econometrics (LE), about the future of global hotel development. Drawing on LE’s exclusive data, Ford will take a deep dive into industry trends, including its global forecast through 2026 and the rising importance of conversion projects. Register for the free webinar here.
