Pilgrims

This long-running series explores the global phenomenon of overtourism, shedding light on its cultural, environmental and societal impacts. While travel was once a privilege reserved for the elite, advances in technology, faster transportation and more affordable options have made it accessible to almost anyone today. In 2024, an estimated 1.4 billion international tourists were recorded worldwide, highlighting the rapid growth of global tourism. However, this increased accessibility comes at a significant cost: the world's most iconic destinations have become overcrowded, overused and often stripped of their original meaning under the pressure of mass tourism.

This series focuses on one of tourism's defining rituals: photography — or as I call it, "proof-making." Taking photos has become an almost compulsory act in modern tourism, serving not only as a memory but also as evidence of having been at a particular place. In the past, landmarks were admired on postcards, today, Instagram and other social media platforms heavily influence people's travel decisions.

The images critically examine the consequences of overtourism: the overcrowding that strips locations of intimacy and the potential for authentic experiences, the overuse of cultural and natural heritage, which puts its survival at risk and the marginalization of local communities, who are often forced to cater to the needs of tourists. Tourists, as modern-day pilgrims, traverse the globe, but their presence increasingly disrupts the delicate balance between preserving these destinations and exploiting them.