Fear of crowding and overtourism: Scale development and validation

One of the most visible manifestations of overtourism is crowding; however, little is known about the psychological mechanisms through which crowds affect tourists. This paper presents the Fear of Crowding scale and supports its validity by demonstrating that it represents not merely a perception of density or risk, but a distinct emotional response with tangible behavioral implications. Based on data collected from three European countries, Serbia ( N = 432), Hungary ( N = 455), and Croatia ( N = 479), the study employed a multiphase validation process, including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), tests of convergent and discriminant validity, and behavioral proxy prediction. The findings confirm the scale’s reliability and generalizability, showing that Fear of Crowding is a consistent predictor of avoidance behaviors and reduced intentions to revisit. Beyond its methodological contribution, the construct offers valuable insight into the psychological burden of overtourism and provides destination managers with a practical tool for developing more considerate, sustainable, and responsive tourism policies.