10 Popular Tourist Attractions That Are Security Nightmares
Some of the world’s most iconic tourist destinations have security challenges that would spin your head around. While these sites are highly productive bringing joy to millions, they’ve also provided plenty of sleepless nights for security personnel.
Take note of some of these Security Nightmares while visiting these 10 popular tourist attractions.
Times Square
Times Square is the epicenter of New York City’s energy. It’s full of street performers, neon lights, and tourists. It never sleeps. Unfortunately, this area is a known scammer playground with petty crime and overcrowding being its greatest security issues. New Year’s Eve is when the population in the square can reach a million. Keeping everyone safe in such crowded spaces can be a difficult job requiring 24/7 security.
The Vatican
If you’re visiting the Vatican, that means entering one of the holiest sites on Earth, and one of the most heavily secured. Yet, as a high profile location, the religious pilgrim and tourist influx is well known and no doubt welcomes millions of people to the small city state year after year. Tight security is required because of the sheer number of visitors plus the importance of the residence being occupied by a Pope.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower may be the most recognizable of structures on the planet, but it’s certainly the most feared by security teams everywhere. The tower is always busy with more than 7 million visitors a year. The crowded lines are a gold mine for pickpockets and it’s hard to keep tabs on what’s going on with all the people. It’s iconic status also puts it on the spot for more than thieves alone but terrorist attacks.
The Louvre
The Mona Lisa is just one work of art that can be found at The Louvre and this museum is visited by over 10 million people a year. And that’s a lot of people for one museum. Security personnel also have to guard the artwork, but dealing with the crowds can be difficult. Some of humanity’s greatest masterpieces are protected in the gallery’s crowded hallways where pickpockets are known to lurk, and protecting them is no easy task, as the crowds of visitors require careful management.
Machu Picchu
Perched high in the Andes, this ancient Incan city is a stunning marvel of human history but not an easy place to get to —or keep secure. Being remote and rugged, Machu Picchu is a hard place to get to and makes emergency responses all the more challenging. Additionally, too many visitors have the potential to ruin an environment.
The Taj Mahal
India’s Taj Mahal is among the world’s most stunning structures, but heavy crowds have made securing it an issue with around 8 million people visiting per year. Petty crime, as well as the threat of more serious incidents, has been rising on the complex. Most areas have security screenings, including metal detectors and bag checks, something that has become standard procedure, but with so many visitors every day, security for all can feel like an Herculean task.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a massive thing, literally and figuratively – it’s over 13,000 miles. While it’s a draw that brings millions in visitors, its size makes it hard to monitor. The wall is steep in some places, crumbling, and unsafe for tourists wandering off marked paths. The wall, which is so vast, simply puts so much strain onto security forces that they can’t maintain control over this wonder.
The Colosseum
The historic arena has become a prime spot for theft and overcrowding, with over 7 million tourists per year according to this Statista article. It isn’t just the wear and tear on the structure itself that is an ongoing concern, but visitors to that area are in danger of being pickpocketed. There is heavy police presence as people walk through the site but with that many people, it’s impossible to police every corner of the Colosseum.
Mount Everest
There’s not just danger in climbing Mount Everest. Now the base camps and routes to the mountain are jammed with adventurers and climbers, not just a human traffic jam but an environmental crisis. Medical aid and rescue options are very limited in such a remote, high altitude location, which make keeping people safe very difficult.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a tricky place to keep secure — it’s also a natural wonder. Authorities have their hands full keeping up with the falls and the surrounding attractions — with millions of people from both the U.S. and Canadian sides visiting each year. Add in the occasional thrill seeker who gets too adventurous, and it’s obvious why this is a problem for security teams. Still, many regard Niagara falls as a tourist trap.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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