There’s nothing quite like traveling to popular tourist attractions in different parts of the world to enjoy new cultures, experience magnificent landscapes, and make lifelong memories. The most beautiful places in the world are those where people from all over come to enjoy them. But sometimes, all that popularity can end up doing more harm than good to those places. If a destination is too overrun by visitors, it might destroy the environment, overwhelm locals, and even disrupt the feel of the area altogether.
Let me share with you 12 must-see destinations that were unfortunately damaged by mass tourism.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.
Venice, Italy
Venice is a dream-like city, with canals, architectural splendor and all the romance. Yet today, the city clings to the millions of tourists who come there every year. The city is drowning and boats pollute it all the more. Plus, the locals are getting squeezed out of town as more tourists drop in on short-term stays and Airbnb takes over. It’s a bittersweet place where the beauty of the city is smashed by its fame.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is one of those sites you just can’t get enough of. But these days, these ancient Incan ruins have to contend with the effects of their phenomenal popularity. The government had to set high visitor restrictions for Machu Picchu, but even then, there is foot traffic, which has led to erosion on the stone paths. The ecosystem around Machu Picchu is suffering too, with more and more trash and pollution from tourists.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef has long been a dive and nature tourist haven, but the reef is in great need of repairs from over-tourism. More boaters have damaged the delicate coral, while sunscreen, plastics, and waste are wreaking havoc on the reef. And on top of that, the climatic change is causing coral bleaching in the reef, which is even worse. It’s true that Tourism makes money, but there’s also a trade-off for saving such a fragile ecosystem.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini’s white buildings, blue domes, and sunsets are some of the most photographed in the world. But as more people travel to the island to spend their vacation dreams, it’s begun to buckle. Roads are jam-packed with travelers, and some of the towns are so full of hotels and boutiques that they no longer capture the aura that made Santorini famous in the first place.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona has always been an architectural city with beautiful beaches and a great culture, but since the introduction of cheap flights and cruise ships, it has become very crowded. There are big crowds everywhere you go, especially around places such as La Rambla and the Sagrada Familia. Tourism, though an integral element of the city’s economy, is also creating a lot of problems for the population due to skyrocketing rents and shortages of decent housing.
Phuket, Thailand
Phuket’s sunbaked sands and party atmosphere make it Thailand’s busiest tourist spot, but mass tourism is beginning to weigh down this island. The shorelines of Phuket are crowded, and the environment is often contaminated by the vessels and hotels. Locals too are under siege since tourism hikes the living rate and some parts of the island are overbuilt to accommodate tourists.
Mount Everest, Nepal
Everest was always the ultimate adventure — and there’s something horribly wrong with overcrowded Everest. The number of mountaineers reaching the top has grown exponentially, and so has the amount of rubbish on the trail — from oxygen tanks to human excrement. Even at the summit itself, the crowding has made things hazardous, with long queues and fatal accidents.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is a beautiful temple complex that is popular with tourists from all over the world. And now, as people keep coming, the site is beginning to fail. These huge crowds have worn out the structures and are causing harm to the environment. The area surrounding Angkor Wat, which had always been tranquil and sacred, is now overrun with visitors, and the commercialization of the site threatens its authenticity.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Bora Bora’s turquoise water and posh resorts put it on everyone’s bucket list, but mass tourism is harming the island. The boats and the snorkelers are wrecking coral reefs, and the land is being polluted. Luxury tourism is also raising prices for locals, making it harder to make ends meet for those living there.
Stonehenge, England
Stonehenge is arguably the most recognisable stone structure in the world but the thousands of visitors it attracts every year are straining the monument. The stones have been eroded by the constant footfall, and there is also concern about the surrounding area being defiled by construction, (possibly threatening its natural beauty and historical significance).
The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Galápagos is renowned for its wildlife, but its increasing tourism threatens to strain the fragile habitats. Invasive species, garbage and human activities are jeopardizing the delicate equilibrium that makes the islands so unique. Now, there are tighter controls on the islands in order to ensure the survival of their fauna, but the damage of mass tourism is impossible to undo.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is the “Pearl of the Adriatic” that everyone is raving about, especially because of “Game of Thrones.” But there are also a huge number of visitors, cruise ship passengers in particular, who have overwhelmed the city and made its infrastructure quite costly. Residents are being squeezed out by property prices, and constant visitors are draining the city of its historical appeal. Dubrovnik is trying to keep the crowds down, but that’s tough when the place is so tempting.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
12 Major Reasons Why People Have So Much Hatred For Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers, typically those born between 1946 and 1964, have faced scrutiny and criticism from various quarters. This phenomenon of animosity towards Baby Boomers has multiple roots, ranging from economic factors and cultural shifts to generational conflicts and perceptions of privilege. Exploring these facets can provide insight into the 12 major reasons why some people harbor so much hatred for Baby Boomers.
12 Major Reasons Why People Have So Much Hatred For Baby Boomers
20 Relationship Habits That You Think Are Loving, but Are Actually Dangerously Deceptive
Discover the hidden truths of Relationship Habits That You Think Are Loving but Are Dangerously Deceptive”. This thought-provoking journey challenges our notions of love, empowers us to build healthier bonds, and brings surprising revelations.
20 Relationship Habits That You Think Are Loving, but Are Actually Dangerously Deceptive
The 15 Worst-Selling Cars in America
Not every automobile model captures public attention or meets consumer expectations. The market celebrates top sellers, but some cars struggle to find buyers. High prices, unattractive designs, subpar performance, or failure to stand out in a highly competitive market contribute to poor sales.
In this article, we examine some of the worst-selling cars in America, highlighting cars that may have missed the mark, from once-promising models to niche vehicles that never found an audience.