Part 1 - Option 2 - Question 1 · Inglés PAU Cantabria Extraordinaria 2026

Option 2.

Overtourism

1 Tourism is booming. In 2024, there were 1.5 billion holidaymakers worldwide, setting the second-highest ever record after 2019. Overtourism refers to the excessive influx of holidaymakers to a destination. The UN World Tourism Organisation defines the phenomenon as follows: “It is the point at which locals or visitors feel tourism has negatively impacted the quality of life in a region to an unacceptable degree.” This certainly applies to the Canary Islands. Home to 2.2 million residents, the islands hosted 15.2 million visitors last year, and a new record is expected for 2026. Tourism accounts for more than one-third of the Canary Islands' economy, but local community groups argue that the tourism industry is transforming the islands in ways that do not serve local needs.

2 Overtourism stretches infrastructure and local resources to their limit. Noise, littering, and traffic jams are just a few of the unpleasant aspects of surges in visitors. Landscapes are often altered, disrupting the local flora and fauna. Overtourism also threatens local water resources, particularly in places like the Canary Islands, where supplies are limited, and holidaymakers generally consume more water than locals. Moreover, tourism today accounts for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with air travel mainly to blame for its growing climate impact. Short trips with low-cost airlines are increasingly popular in Europe and are particularly damaging, as the largest proportion of tourists’ carbon emissions comes from the flights to and from their destinations.

3 They say the presence of nearby airports, particularly those served by low-cost airlines, encourages overtourism. Mallorca, for example, would perhaps not be so popular if people could only travel there by ship. However, cruise ships are also criticised for aggravating the problem. Cruise ships carry large numbers of passengers, who usually go ashore for only a few hours, putting pressure on local infrastructure and contributing very little to the local economy, as everything they need is on board.

4 But can overtourism be prevented? Some regions are trying to limit the number of visitors they receive. Tenerife is restricting access to the summit of the Pico del Teide volcano to 300 visitors per day, and Thailand has gone one step further; to help local ecosystems recover, the Thai government has closed the popular Similan and Surin Islands entirely to the public this year until autumn 2026. Restrictions aside, there are also places that reward climate-friendly travellers. Last year, Copenhagen city council launched CopenPay, a campaign that rewards visitors with bonuses such as reduced admission prices to local attractions or a free cup of coffee when they travel to the city by train rather than by aeroplane.

Adapted from Yahoo! News, December 2025

Question 1 [2 points]

Indicate clearly by writing the words TRUE or FALSE whether the following statements are true or false according to the text and write down the sentence or the part of the text that you consider justifies your answer. The evidence must make sense and be grammatically and lexically coherent.

No points will be given if the evidence is not correct or if the handwriting is not sufficiently clear.

A.

Only residents of a tourist destination can feel the effects of overtourism.

B.

The Canary Islands expect to receive more than 15 million tourists this year.

C.

Wildlife and plant life are generally unaffected by overtourism.

D.

The Similan and Surin Islands will reopen to the public after summer.