Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 12 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 3: Cities and Places

What is overtourism?

Tourism brings money and jobs, but in some places there are simply too many visitors. Learn to talk about crowds, numbers and amounts with quantifiers, and discuss how cities can find a balance.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Tourism and crowds

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Is there any place near you that is too crowded?
  2. Do you enjoy visiting very popular places?
  3. How much of your town's money comes from tourists?
  4. Have you ever been annoyed by tourists?
  5. Would you pay a fee to visit a historic city?
  6. How do you behave when you travel?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about tourism.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. The old town is too in July; you can hardly walk.
  2. Tourism is important for the local .
  3. Visitors have to pay an entry .
  4. Many tourists want real, local life.
  5. A huge arrived in the port this morning.
  6. The city wants to the number of visitors.
  7. Traffic gets worse in summer.
  8. Tourism should be and protect nature.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. crowded =
  2. a fee is money you
  3. sustainable =
  4. authentic =
  5. to benefit = to
  6. to disturb = to
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about amounts and numbers.

  • There are too many tourists.Забагато туристів.There are too many tourists in the old town.
  • There isn't enough space.Недостатньо місця.There isn't enough space for everyone.
  • plenty ofбагатоThere are plenty of cafés but few places for locals.
  • hardly anyмайже жодногоThere are hardly any local shops left.
  • the majority ofбільшістьThe majority of visitors stay only a day.
  • a great deal ofбагатоTourism brings a great deal of money.
  • few / a fewмало / кількаFew residents can afford the rent.
  • little / a littleмало / трохиThere is little space for new homes.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Too many visitors

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What is overtourism?

International tourism has grown quickly. According to the UN's tourism organisation, there were about 1.4 billion international arrivals in 2024. For many places this is good news, because tourism brings jobs and a great deal of money.

But in some popular cities, a large number of visitors go to the same few streets at the same time. Local people complain about crowded streets, noise and rising rents, as more and more homes are turned into short-term rentals. The word "overtourism" was widely used after about 2016 to describe this situation.

Cities have tried different solutions. In 2024, Venice began a trial in which day visitors pay an entry fee on busy days. Barcelona and Amsterdam have announced or introduced measures such as rules on tourist apartments and limits on large cruise ships. Some places ask visitors to book in advance in order to limit the numbers.

Not everybody agrees. Supporters say that fees protect the city. Critics say that such measures may keep out the less wealthy tourists and do little to change the real causes. Many experts suggest that the best answer is to spread visitors over the whole year and over more places.

Have you ever visited a place that was too crowded?

3.2

True or false?

  1. There were about 1.4 billion international arrivals in 2024.
  2. Tourism brings no money to cities.
  3. Venice started a trial with an entry fee for day visitors.
  4. Everybody agrees that fees are the best solution.
  5. Experts suggest spreading visitors over the whole year.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Who should decide how many tourists a city accepts?
  2. Is an entry fee fair to poorer visitors?
  3. How can tourists help local people instead of harming them?
  4. What are the alternatives to visiting very famous places?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Quantifiers with countable nouns

many, few, a few, fewer, a number of, plenty of, too many, not enough.

There are too many tourists. A few shops are open. Fewer residents live here. There aren't enough benches.

Quantifiers with uncountable nouns

much, little, a little, less, a great deal of, plenty of, too much, hardly any.

There is too much noise. We have little space. Tourism brings a great deal of money. There's hardly any peace.

Block 3 review

Use the grammar from this block.

relative clauses (L11)

Common mistakes: many / few + countable, much / little + uncountable, fewer / less. ✗ too much tourists → too many tourists. ✗ less people → fewer people.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. There are too
    tourists in the old town.
  2. There is too
    noise at night.
  3. Only
    residents live there.
  4. There are
    cafés open late.
  5. We have
    space for new homes.
  6. Tourism brings
    money.
  7. There are
    local shops left.
  8. people live in the centre now.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. There are too much tourists. →
  2. I have a little friends here. →
  3. There is many traffic. →
  4. Less people live here now. →
  5. We have hardly no time. →
  6. Tourism brings a number of money. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use too many, too much, a few, a little, hardly any and plenty of.

  1. Is there any place near you that is too crowded?
  2. What are the advantages of tourism for your town?
  3. How much time do you spend in crowded places?
  4. Would you pay a fee to enter a historic city?
  5. What would you do to reduce the number of visitors?
  6. How can tourists behave more responsibly?
5

Three views and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on tourism

Three people have different views on overtourism. Compare them. Who benefits the most? Who suffers the most? What would be the fairest solution?

Person 1

Anna, 55

  • Lives in the old town of a popular city
  • Can hardly sleep because of noise
  • Has few neighbours left
  • Wants a limit on visitors
Person 2

Pedro, 38

  • Owns a café in the centre
  • Has a great deal of work in summer
  • Earns most money from tourists
  • Worries about new fees
Person 3

Kate, 25

  • Is a tourist
  • Visits a city for two days
  • Wants authentic places
  • Thinks a small fee is fair
5.2

Mini-talk: crowded places

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: a place you have visited that was crowded.
  3. Part 2: how tourism helps and harms it (use quantifiers).
  4. Part 3: what you would do to solve the problem.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Do you like crowded places?
  2. When was the last time you were in a very crowded place?
  3. How many tourists come to your town?
  4. What do tourists usually buy?
  5. Do you prefer travelling in high season or low season?
  6. What is the most beautiful place you've visited with hardly any tourists?
  7. How much money do you spend on holidays?
  8. What is a good souvenir from your region?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family travels a lot?
  2. Who works with tourists?
  3. Who has had a bad experience with tourists?
  4. Who prefers quiet holidays?
  5. Who do you know that lives in a tourist area?
  6. Who would you like to travel with?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Should cities limit the number of visitors?
  2. Should tourists pay more than residents?
  3. Are cruise ships a good idea?
  4. Should holiday flats be controlled?
  5. Is it responsible to fly for a short holiday?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Residents' meeting

You

Resident

At a town meeting (your teacher is the mayor), explain the problem:
  • say how many tourists come
  • say what problems they cause
  • suggest solutions
  • respond to the mayor's worries
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use quantifiers: too many, too much, a few, hardly any.
Your teacher

Mayor

Says things like:
  1. What is the main problem?
  2. Tourists bring money, though.
  3. What do you suggest?
  4. Would a fee work?
7.2

Planning a trip

You

Traveller

You plan a trip with a friend (your teacher) to a popular city. Discuss:
  • say what you want to see
  • say what is crowded and when
  • suggest less popular places
  • decide on a plan
You do most of the talking. Use: plenty of · a few · hardly any · too many
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Let's go in July!
  2. It'll be too crowded.
  3. Where else could we go?
  4. So what's the plan?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

crowdedeconomyfeeauthenticcruise shiplimitcongestionsustainable
  1. The old town is too in July; you can hardly walk.
  2. Tourism is important for the local .
  3. Visitors have to pay an entry .
  4. Many tourists want real, local life.
  5. A huge arrived in the port this morning.
  6. The city wants to the number of visitors.
  7. Traffic gets worse in summer.
  8. Tourism should be and protect nature.
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. There are too cars in the centre.
  2. We need cars.
  3. She has time to talk.
  4. There isn't space.
  5. tourists come in summer.
  6. There are seats.
  7. I have friends in Rome.
  8. Tourism brings money.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. There are too many tourists.
  2. There are too much tourists.
  3. We have little space for new homes.
  4. There is many traffic.
  5. Fewer residents live here now.
  6. Less people live here now.
  7. There are hardly any local shops left.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. There are too many tourists
  2. There isn't enough space
  3. There are plenty of cafés
  4. There are hardly any
  5. The majority of visitors
  6. Tourism brings
  7. Few residents

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.