The strategy of a new tourism model: polycentric sustainable tourism

[Inicio] At the European level, mass tourism has become one of the defining challenges of our time. While it generates significant economic revenue, its unchecked growth places heavy pressure on natural resources, public infrastructure, and the social fabric of host communities. Iconic destinations risk losing their authenticity, while residents face rising costs of living, congestion, and declining quality of life. Tourism remains a driver of growth and cohesion across the Atlantic Area, yet the current model shows structural challenges. Overtourism in cities such as Porto, Dublin, or Santiago de Compostela strains infrastructure, increases housing costs, and generates social tensions. Meanwhile, rural and inland regions remain overlooked, experiencing economic stagnation, depopulation, and wasted cultural potential. This imbalance creates a dual crisis: excess tourism in some areas, insufficient tourism in others. It erodes resident well-being, weakens territorial cohesion, and undermines sustainability. Climate change, demographic decline, and shifting tourist preferences make the problem even more urgent. To ensure long-term resilience, tourism must be rethought as a system that balances demand with the capacity of places to host visitors sustainably. This means safeguarding environmental resources, preserving cultural identity, and ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared fairly. The future of tourism depends on reconciling the interests of visitors and residents alike - creating experiences that are meaningful, responsible, and respectful, while protecting the well-being of the communities that make destinations unique. [...]