Tourism

Large group of tourists wait in parking lot in Glacier National Park for park shuttle.

Glacier National Park drops reservation requirement, plans to double down on shuttle network

Since 2021, visitors with cars have had to make a reservation to access the park.

May 23, 2026 - Flathead Beacon

Sign saying “Dear visitors, be aware: every tourist apartment is a home taken away from the local people” hung on orange building in Girona, Spain.

Spain Fines Airbnb $75 Million After Crackdown on Unlicensed Rentals

The government took action after residents in tourist centers protested, blaming tourist rentals for a growing housing crisis.

December 17, 2025 - Associated Press

Colorful historic homes in Madrid, Spain.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs

The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.

May 20, 2025 - The New York Times

"Tourist go home" graffiti on a wall in Barcelona, Spain.

Spain Moves to Regulate Short-Term Rentals

Calls for regulation at the national level have prompted lawmakers to consider limiting tourist rentals amidst a growing housing crisis.

January 30, 2025 - The New York Post

Firestone tire shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Avoiding Misplacement of a Place

To balance the interests of current residents and economic well-being, does a city's signature identity need an update?

January 28, 2025 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Spray painted words "Tourist Go Home" on wall in Barcelona illustrate locals' frustration with overtourism.

Balancing Act: 7 Strategies to Curb Overtourism

What’s a popular travel destination to do? From ice cream bans to “Stay Away” marketing campaigns, cities and countries across the world are getting creative in their efforts to curb the negative impacts of mass tourism and tourists behaving badly.

August 5, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Facades of old apartment buildings in Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona to Phase out All Short-Term Rentals

The city plans to stop issuing new or renewal licenses by 2029.

June 26, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Line of colorful historic buildings on one side of a square jammed packed with people.

Too Much of a Good Thing? 5 Flavors of Overtourism

Popular travel destinations across the world are facing a huge challenge as international tourism surpasses pre-pandemic levels: too many visitors. But what’s driving this troublesome trend?

May 30, 2024 - Mary Hammon

CLose-up of red outdoor sign for Disneyland Hotel, Disney Parks Parking, and Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim, California.

Anaheim Could Use Tourism Tax Revenue for Affordable Housing

City leaders say taxes from Anaheim’s entertainment district could be redirected to a housing fund in the wake of a corruption scandal.

May 1, 2024 - Voice of OC

Sillhouettes of group of people watching solar eclipse.

Towns Preparing for Eclipse Exodus

Monday’s solar eclipse will bring increased traffic to parts of the country in its path.

April 5, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Rat shaped indentation on pavement, filled with coins

Chicago Rat Hole Becomes Viral Urban Sensation

The rodent-shaped sidewalk imprint has captured hearts and imaginations on social media but has proven a headache for neighbors.

January 30, 2024 - Hyperallergic

Uber Dumbo

‘Instagrammed to Death’ or a Return to Pre-Pandemic Normal?

Familiar controversies might seem reassuring in 2022.

August 21, 2022 - The New York Times

tennessee

Opinion: Beware ‘Gatlinburginazation’

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, located at the western gateway of Great Smokey Mountains National Park, serves as a cautionary tale in the debate about a proposed resort near Slade in Eastern Kentucky.

August 3, 2022 - Lexington Herald Leader

Welcome Sign

Lack of Affordable Housing Causing Labor Shortages

Sky-high housing costs are driving workers away from Colorado's mountain towns, leading to labor shortages in some of the state's key industries.

January 5, 2022 - The Denver Post

Delmar Loop

The Uncertain Future of the St. Louis Loop Trolley

St. Louis faces losing federal funds if the Loop Trolley remains defunct. But is the 2.2-mile line worth it?

January 5, 2022 - nextSTL

Massachusetts

Nantucket Residents Pass on More Stringent Regulation of Short-Term Rentals

A recent Nantucket Town Meeting resolved a long-simmering controversy regarding short-term rentals.

June 10, 2021 - The Inquirer and Mirror

San Diego Harbor

San Diego Passes New Vacation Rental Regulations

The city passed a proposal to limit the number of whole-home vacation rentals and implement new regulations and fees for rental property owners.

March 1, 2021 - Voice of San Diego

Christmas

Holiday Travel Expected to Slow in 2020, With Economic Impacts for Cities

As the holiday season approaches and the pandemic continues, cities face an uncertain future.

November 16, 2020 - Devin Partida

Airbnb logo over Dresden

Airbnb City Portal Offers Transparency, Addresses Safety Concerns

A new Airbnb Portal gives cities a much-requested glimpse into the short-term rental company's books. Now operating in 15 cities, the Airbnb City Portal is poised for implementation on a global scale.

September 30, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Pacific Ocean Beaches

Study: Oahu Could Lose 40 Percent of its Beaches by 2050

A new study calls for changes to coastal management policies to better protect sandy shorelines retreating under the pressure of rising sea levels.

September 28, 2020 - The Honolulu Star Advertiser

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.