Overcrowding can occur when the number of people at a particular site or location exceeds the capacity of the place to handle them. This is generally a seasonal problem.
Visitors can cause physical damage to the coastal area without realising it. Much of the damage is unintentional, such as at Lulworth where the path between the Cove and Durdle Door is eroding due to the volume of visitors using it through the summer months. In this case the Weld Estate, Countryside Commission and Purbeck District Council have joined together to pay for the path to be resurfaced, in order to prevent further erosion. Elsewhere it is not always clear who should shoulder the burden of repair and maintenance costs.
Tourism is a major generator of traffic within Dorset. Whilst the conurbation can be reached by public transport, elsewhere the main form of travel is by car which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Almost 80% of visitors use their cars to travel to destinations once they reach the county.
In the peak summer months, congestion in the county can be a major problem. Roads such as the A351 through Corfe Castle to Swanage and Studland and the A35 can become very congested, often with traffic jams occurring at peak times, such as in the morning or evening when people are travelling to and from attractions. On many coastal routes, the summer flow of traffic may be three or four times the annual
average daily flow. Although most visitors travel by car, a sizeable amount arrive in Dorset as part of organised coach tours. Although this has a positive side as there
are fewer cars to deal with, narrow streets and tight corners in towns such as Swanage pose problems.
Many car parks in the county are geared towards visitor parking in the peak months, therefore a high proportion remain virtually unused outside of the main
season. In certain areas car parks can be visually intrusive and may reduce the enjoyment of the site. In busy periods conflicts many arise between the
parking needs of local residents and of visitors. In areas such as Swanage, parking ideally situated for shopping is often used by visitors staying in the resort for most of the day, despite long stay car parking being available elsewhere.
Some of the issues arising as a result of visitor presence in the area, can further increase local resentment. Traffic congestion and inappropriate can cause resentment
and local opposition. The sheer number of visitors can overwhelm residents in areas, which have a high visitor presence for some of the year. In certain areas
along the coast holiday homes can account for up to 20 % of the accommodation stock. Additional conflict can occur as a result of visitor vandalism or anti-social behaviour and seasonal price increases in resort areas.
