The risk of overtourism in the Sochi tourist destination in the post-pandemic period

The article is devoted to the study of the impact of tourism on the population of the Sochi resort destination in the context of the problems of the phenomenon of overtourism and the study of the tourist experience gained by visitors to the city. The definitions of the terms "overtourism", "carrying capacity", formulated by the UNWTO, are given. The authors clarify the concept of "capacity" and "perception of capacity"; "conflict", "satisfaction" and "loyalty". The main reason for overtourism is emphasized - the excessive tourist load on the destination. Attention is focused on the growth rates of international tourism, the number of tourist arrivals and the intensity of tourism in a number of European and Russian popular tourist centers in 2019; cases of protest actions of the population against tourist expansion, which increased the attention of experts to the problems of excessive tourism in the world. The results of determining the risk of overtourism in the Sochi resort destination in the before-COVID period are presented. It is concluded that this risk, investigated using different methods, is assessed in the range from "low" to "very high". There has been a significant increase in tourist arrivals in Sochi after the lifting of quarantine restrictions in 2020, as well as in 2021. It is suggested that the threat of the risk of overtourism for the Sochi resort in the period of a pandemic will increase in this connection. The factors that may affect the risk of overtourism in the Sochi tourist destination in the post-COVID period are indicated.