10 Popular Destinations That Are Struggling with Over-Tourism
Some of the world’s most beautiful and historic places are fighting over-tourism and overwhelmed with crowds. Travel offers us the opportunity to unite and support local economies, but too many people in one place is wearing thin on local communities and the environment. Now many destinations are having to walk a fine line between benefiting from tourism and protecting their cultural and natural treasures.
Over tourism affects places everywhere from famous landmarks to remote islands. Visitors can flood in and have an impact on the local life, damage fragile sites, and ruin the experience for everybody. Below are 10 destinations that are struggling to find the right balance between popularity and preservation.
Venice, Italy
it’s no surprise that Venice, with its famous canals and gondolas has long been a leading destination for travelers. But the city’s narrow streets and waterways weren’t designed to accommodate the influx of millions of visitors each year. Entrance fees and other measures have been imposed by the local government to limit the numbers of people, but the impact of cruise ships and day trippers is still an issue.
Machu Picchu, Peru
For decades, the breathtaking Incan ruins of Machu Picchu have lured visitors, but they are also incredibly vulnerable. The Peruvian government has restricted daily visitor limits but crowds continue to flock to the site. With worries about erosion and preservation, many experts predict that the site will suffer irreparable damage if these restrictions aren’t properly adhered to, and today visitors are required to follow a more structured route through the ancient ruins.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The canals, the cycling culture, and the history all make Amsterdam a beloved destination, but the city center is overburdened with tourists. Residents have also become fed up with the party atmosphere some tourists bring and the rising housing costs that come with the demand. As part of the actions to protect the city’s character, the city council has adopted stricter Airbnb regulations and will discourage big tourist groups in historic areas.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is famous for its whitewashed buildings and sapphire blue sea views, and it is a bucket list item for many travelers. But the island’s infrastructure cannot cope with the high number of visitors, particularly in the summer. Thousands of tourists are unloaded daily by massive cruise ships, and the roads, hotels and restaurants are under strain. Officials have therefore had to place limits on the number of cruise ships that can dock on the island, in order to give it some breathing space.
Iceland
Iceland’s wondrous natural beauty and its unique landscapes has made it an Instagram sensation, resulting in travelers from all over the globe wanting to visit. With a small population and limited infrastructure, some of the country’s most famous waterfalls and black sand beaches are feeling the strain. Rules have been set up by the government to protect the environment and educate tourists about respecting nature, but the speed of tourism is too quick to be maintained.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Appearing in TV shows and movies helped Dubrovnik get a major boost in popularity, as it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. That has only led to traffic jams in its narrow streets and the beaches becoming overcrowded with tourists. The city has introduced daily visitor limits and is monitoring crowd density to ease some of the impact. Yet the crowds keep coming to Dubrovnik, and locals say they hope for more policies to keep them at bay.
Barcelona, Spain
Every year millions of people are attracted to Barcelona’s stunning architecture, vibrant neighborhoods, and lively beaches. But there have been complaints about noise, pollution and rent rising up out of control as ridiculous numbers of tourists come to town. A measure has also been taken by the city to limit new hotel development, as well as tighten regulations for short term rentals. But the city has still been unable to hold on to its identity, despite these efforts, against the flood of visitors.
Mount Everest, Nepal
Due to years of making the peak more accessible, Mount Everest has become a place to which experienced climbers as well as adventure seekers go in an attempt to reach the summit. The result of this has been overcrowding on the trails, a problem that becomes increasingly serious as the altitude increases, with waiting lines becoming a genuine risk. Overcrowding on the climb is more than just dangerous — it’s also a source of waste problems along the route. Managing the volume will be a steep uphill battle, but the Nepalese government has set climber limits and is working to improve waste management.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is known as a paradise for relaxing and there are beaches, temples, and rice terraces to enjoy, but the island’s popularity has taxed its natural resources and infrastructure, most especially in places most visited by tourists. Today, the problems in Bali include water shortages, waste management problems, and traffic congestion. The government is urging visitors to visit less traveled parts of the island in order to spread the impact more evenly.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto has its famous temples, cherry blossoms and traditional tea houses. However, large tour groups and photographers around the holy-space is frustrating residents. Since then Kyoto has been working on promoting awareness of appropriate etiquette and discouraging overcrowding in particularly sensitive locations in particular during cherry blossom season.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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