Riots in the city: we don’t want more tourists

The inhabitants of the Austrian city of Hallstatt have revolted against the growing number of tourists.

Hallstatt residents, who took to the streets to protest the influx of tourists, rioted when the sleepy town of 700 was inundated with thousands of tourists during the summer months.

During the high tourist season, the small town surrounded by mountains, famous for its lake views and old houses, has a population of 10,000. Although Hallstatt’s economy, which in recent years has become a favorite with foreign tourists, is growing thanks to tourism revenues, locals are not satisfied with this situation.

FAMOUS WITH THE SOUTH KOREA SERIES

The inhabitants of Hallstatt, who want to limit the number of tourists and daily guided tours, say that at times there is no place to walk in the city.

The city’s holding of a South Korean TV series in 2006 sparked a boom in the number of tourists, especially from Asia. In fact, a similar city was built in China.

The public had put up walls at points where tourists took selfies in May, but these walls were removed after backlash. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Hallstatt had set a record with 1 million tourists in one year.

Recently, the tourism boom and growing complaints in many European countries are forcing local governments to take precautions.