**1. Introduction**

Scientific research into the development of tourism generally looks from the perspective of the positive effects of such development. This research often omits the negative impact of tourism, which may only appear after a long period of time and which can result in uneven development among various groups within the local community. One example of this is the term 'overtourism', developed in the last few years in media reports on the negative impact of mass tourism on host communities and/or the natural environment. The definition of overtourism was formulated in UNWTO documents in 2018 and reads "the impact of tourism on a destination, or parts thereof, that excessively influences perceived quality of life of citizens and/or quality of visitors' experiences in a negative way" [1]. A tourist area has its limitations that result from the usable area available and its reaction to tourist traffic [2]. A key problem is defining the permissible size of traffic, above which it may be considered excessive. For cities that are large centers of tourism and are faced with an invasion of tourists, proposed indicators define the optimal level of socio-psychological capacity [3].

Numerous studies have confirmed that the behavior of visitors, the length of their stay, the volume of tourists and the type of tourism are in fact equally as important as the number of tourists [4]. While the influence of tourism on the physical environment is relatively easy to define, it is decidedly more difficult to assess the social effects of an influx of tourists. A concept based on the host community's tolerance towards tourists is not only subjective but is also difficult to measure. The level of tolerance among residents towards an influx of tourists varies depending on local and private interests [5,6].

Overtourism and its related problems can be observed in many European cities, such as Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Rome, Prague, Dubrovnik, and Ljubljana [7]. In Poland, one example of the evolving role of tourism in city life is Kraków, a city that was added to the UNESCO list of Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites in 1978 [8] and which is a recognized brand in the national and international tourist market. Without a doubt, the growing number of tourists encourages a city's growth, increases its budget, and distinguishes it on the tourism market, but the question arises—what burden does this bring for the inhabitants? The ongoing process of change undoubtedly results in a lowering of the quality of life but also causes a breakdown in social ties and a weakening of the local sense of identity. Residents lose their significance in their little kingdoms, while their place is taken by tourists, to suit whom the public space starts to be adapted to, resulting in the local community feeling like strangers in their own city.

The aim of this article is to assess the attitudes of Kraków residents towards the development of tourism in their city. Here, we verify the hypothesis that the attitudes of residents depend on the degree to which they are engaged both in providing services for tourists and in earning an income from such involvement, as well as their place of residence in relation to the districts most frequented by tourists. The authors' intention is also to apply the results to the G.V. Doxey Irritation model as well as R.W. Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) concept, both of which assume a change in residents' attitudes relative to an increase in the density of tourist traffic.

#### **2. Literature Review**

### *2.1. Overtourism as a Factor in Unsustainable Development*

Scientific literature proves that the first use of the term overtourism dates back to the beginning of the 21st century, when it was used to describe the danger of excessive exploitation of natural resources [9]. Later, the term *'turismofobia'* appeared in the Spanish media to describe the reaction of Barcelona residents to the excessive growth of tourism [10]. The notion of *tourist saturation* was also used to describe excessive saturation of destinations due to tourism. It must be added that the phenomenon is nothing new, as the issue has been the subject of discussion in academic circles for many years. As early as the 1970- s, special indicators were developed to define the optimal size of tourist traffic for various regions. The literature mentions three basic measurements: absorption indicator, capacity indicator, and flow indicator [11,12]. Meanwhile, Butler published a theory on the evolution cycle of tourist areas (TALC) [13], and Doxey constructed an irritation index illustrating the change in residents' attitudes to tourists [14].

Due to the frequent perception of the negative impact of tourism development, it has become necessary to adopt new scientific terminology. Therefore, the term overtourism has come to be used to describe the negative effect of tourism and has been applied to the problem of excessive numbers of tourists in many cities. The discussion around overtourism has brought attention to the negative consequences of the unchecked increase in tourism. It also points to possible limitations and voluntary compromises aimed at effectively preventing an increase of such problems [15].

In the last two years, the magazine Sustainability has published many articles on the topic of overtourism. An excellent review of the literature on this problem was presented by Capocchi, Vallone, Pierotti, and Amaduzzi [16], collating over eighty texts using bibliometric research. Meanwhile, in their

description of the rights of travelers and residents, Perkumien and Pranskuniene [17] also conducted a review of the already abundant literature related to overtourism.

A variety of regulations and formal restrictions on the reception of tourists can be put in place by local authorities or even by the governments of host countries [18]. Reports are appearing in the media of attempts to limit tourist traffic by limiting tourist numbers. In 2019, in Venice, entrance fees to the city were introduced. The phenomenon of overtourism has been studied in many European cities such as Madrid and Palma de Mallorca [19], and its effects have been described in relation to Krakow [8,20] and Ljubljana [7]. Excessive numbers of tourists are observed in many port cities thanks to cruise tourism [21]. However, research in 13 European cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, and Tallinn indicates abuse of the term 'overtourism' (overtourism overused) and seven myths attributed to this phenomenon [22].

Overtourism applies not only to cities but also to areas valuable in terms of nature, especially national parks, reserves, mountains, and polar regions. The authorities in the Philippines have decided to close the paradise island of Boracay for six months to clean the beaches and allow the natural environment to regenerate. Similar action was taken by Thailand with regard to the famous Maya Bay beach on Phi Phi Leh island. Overtourism also occurs in national parks, e.g., in the USA and Europe [23].
