At a time when the world is more connected than ever, travel has evolved from a luxury to an everyday activity that offers experiences that transcend borders and cultures. However, the popularity of travel has brought unintended consequences, especially in some of the world’s most revered and iconic destinations. These places, once celebrated for their cultural significance, historical eminence, or natural splendor, now face an uncertain fate due to the burden of over-tourism.
As the appeal of these destinations grows, so does the influx of visitors, creating a conundrum where the very places people want to see are at risk of losing their essence. The juxtaposition between the romanticized perception of these places and the harsh reality of their degradation reveals a disturbing truth about the consequences of overwhelming tourism.
These 25 destinations, once jewels in the crown of global travel, now bear the scars of environmental degradation, cultural erosion,n and structural damage from the relentless flow of visitors. What was once a quest for cultural enrichment and breathtaking experiences has inadvertently led to the destruction of these priceless places.
Examining the challenges these destinations face offers a poignant lesson in the delicate balance between exploration and conservation. The need for sustainable travel practices and a mindful approach to tourism has never been more apparent. It’s a call to action for travelers to rethink their itineraries, seek out less traveled paths, and advocate for responsible exploration to ensure the longevity of these wonders for generations to come.
These are a few popular spots that travelers tend to overlook.
1. Indonesian Bali
Annual visitors: 6.3 million; Damage: Cultural decay
Bali, Indonesia has long been associated with peace and happiness. The destination has experienced a surprising influx of more than 6 million visitors per year in recent years, so the reality is in stark contrast to this ideal. Although this boom has greatly boosted the local economy, there are fears that the spiritual atmosphere and cultural character of the area are disappearing. Publications across a range of media channels and social media platforms bemoan the waning “magic of Bali”, although opinions on the subject are still debated.
2. Italian Venice
5.5 million tourists visit annually; damage to society and pollution
Known for its intricate network of waterways, Italy’s Venice welcomes around 5.5 million visitors annually. Local companies benefited greatly, but city dwellers faced problems due to the increase in tourists. Congested areas and strained local services are the result of an excessive influx of tourists during peak months, disrupting the normal activities of local residents. This rarely explored facet stands in stark contrast to the romanticized portrayal of the city in movies.
3. Nepal’s Mount Everest
Every year: One thousand visitors; Pollution:
The ultimate test for experienced climbers, Mount Everest sees just over 1,000 climbers a year. Still, the damage to the environment is significant as climbers carrying heavy equipment inadvertently leave a trail of trash, from food packaging to abandoned oxygen tanks. The concentrated presence of multiple climbing teams at once can complicate logistics and exacerbate environmental problems.
4. Jordan’s Petra
Image Credit: Shutterstock Annual visitors: 1 million Damage: Sandstone and impacts on sacred sites
Over a million tourists annually visit Jordan’s Petra, a historically significant site with beautifully carved temples set into pink sandstone cliffs. Concerns about the erosion of sandstone structures and the diminishing sanctity of the site due to heavy traffic are raised by the delicate nature of the site and the heavy visitor traffic.
5. Cozumel, Mexico
Image courtesy of Pinterest.com/@ciaogigi
Four million tourists every year; damage: dying coral reefs
Over four million tourists annually visit Cozumel, an island in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Mexico. Even though only 100,000 people live on the island, over-tourism has a negative impact on it. As the island’s ecosystems are strained by the booming tourism industry, the local fauna is threatened and the once vibrant coral reefs are rapidly fading.
6. Lake Lucerne in Switzerland
Annual visitors: 1.3 million
Damage: Extreme cramming
The annual influx of more than 1.3 million tourists at Lake Lucerne unfortunately diminishes the natural beauty of Switzerland, a country renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. The main problem is extreme overcrowding, which events like the cliff-diving show brought to light in 2018. A flood of tourists crowded inflatable rafts into the lake, creating a crowded and potentially dangerous scene that increased the chance of accidents, especially drownings.
7. India’s Taj Mahal
Annual visitors: 4.4 million
Damage: Extreme cramming
With more than 4.4 million visitors a year, the famous Taj Mahal has established itself as a major tourist destination in India. However, due to extreme overcrowding caused by the massive influx, local authorities had to raise ticket prices and impose fines for overstayers in an attempt to control the flow of people. Despite these measures, tourists still face difficulties due to the constant stream of visitors, making it difficult to get the ideal photo of this architectural wonder.
8. Vietnamese “Train Street” in Hanoi
Annual visitors: 29 million (Hanoi)
Damage: Threatens the community
Vietnam, a country known for its tourism, has had problems with “Train Street”, a popular spot in Hanoi that features a 117-year-old railway line that crosses a busy street. However, the rush of people on the busy train line posed a risk due to its popularity with tourists, especially those taking selfies. Local authorities ordered the closure of businesses along the street in 2019 in an attempt to reduce the risk and discourage visitors.
9. Icelandic canyon Fjadrargljufur
300,000 tourists per year Cause of damage: Devastation of fauna
The picturesque Fjadrargljufur Canyon in Iceland has seen a significant increase in annual visitors after being featured in Justin Bieber’s music video in 2015.
The unexpected surge in popularity has severely damaged the vegetation and wildlife in the area, leading to an excessive amount of foot traffic.
In order to facilitate necessary conservation work, local authorities had to temporarily close the canyon in 2019.
10. The Indonesian island of Komodo
Annual visitors: 50,000; Damage: Endangerment of endangered local species
The growing number of visitors to Komodo Island, an area set aside for nature conservation, has alarmed Indonesian authorities. A limit of 50,000 visitors per year was introduced to protect the area. In order to protect the habitat of these rare local species and to avoid disturbing the few Komodo dragons, it was also forbidden to build hotels or other types of accommodation on the island.
11. Peru’s Machu Picchu
Annual number of visitors: 500,000
|amage: The site has significant damage, including collapsed walls.
Machu Picchu, a famous Inca relic in Peru, is visited by over 500,000 people every year. Although most guests are polite, accidents do happen and cause serious damage. In 2020, there was a notable incident where a group of visitors to the historic citadel inadvertently pulled down a stone wall that was part of the Sun Temple late at night, causing damage to the floor.
The exact cost of the repairs required to restore this historic site is unknown, but it was high and difficult.
12. USA’s Burning Man in Nevada
Annual number of visitors: 80,000
Damages: $5-10 million a year for festival production and cleanup
Once a smaller festival in Nevada attended by a tight-knit community, Burning Man has gained notoriety and now attracts about 80,000 visitors each year. The growing scale of the action has resulted in skyrocketing expenditures estimated at $10 million, a significant amount of which is for extensive cleanup efforts affecting the Black Rock Desert environment.
13. Pig Island in the Bahamas
Six million tourists visit the Bahamas annually; damages include pollution and the death of pigs.
A colony of feral pigs can be found on Pig Beach on the island of Exuma in the Bahamas, although it is an unexpected sight for tourists. An adverse consequence of the increasing number of visitors to this site is that tourists feed the pigs human food and garbage, which makes the animals sick. The ecological balance of the area and the health of the pigs are at risk as a result of this increase in visitor interaction.
14. San Luis Obispo, California, USA Bubble Gum Alley
Annual visitors: Over 200,000 Damage: severe damage to walls
Each year, more than 200,000 people visit San Luis Obispo’s unique attraction, Bubble Gum Alley, which is covered in gum left behind by tourists. Despite its unpredictable appeal, the gum build-up on the walls is causing significant damage and is seen as an eyesore by local residents who have called for repairs.
15. Spanish Ibiza
Three million tourists visit each year; partygoers cause untold damage.
Ibiza, a popular clubbing destination in Spain, welcomes around three million visitors every year. But the party culture and revelries have seriously damaged the surrounding environment. The increased number of visitors causes significant waste, cultural decay, and noise pollution, all of which have a negative impact on the island’s ecology and way of life.
Read: ‘Rude’ and ‘arrogant’ tourists cause northern Michigan restaurants to close soon
16. Maya Bay, Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands
Annual number of visitors: 260,000 Impact on the environment: Damage
Tucked away in Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands, Maya Bay became famous when it was featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie “The Beach”. By 2019, the number of daily visitors to the beach had skyrocketed to a staggering 5,000, creating a management dilemma for locals. The authorities were forced to make the difficult choice to close the site due to significant environmental damage. To help environmental recovery, the closure has been extended for another two years, with plans to reopen with stricter regulations.
17. The Spanish cave of Altamira
Annual visitors: more than 100,000; Damage: Damage to images
Over the years there has been a lot of interest in the prehistoric paintings found in Spain’s Altamira cave. The paintings caused damage to the caves, leading to their closure in 1977. Although the cave was partially reopened in 1982, problems with mold growth in 2002 forced the cave to be closed again. Although reopening has occasionally been discussed, this possibility is still uncertain as it could jeopardize the conservation of these valuable old paintings.
18. Greek Santorini
Two million tourists visit the area each year; damage includes damage to streets and buildings.
Known for its breathtaking views and distinctive white cube houses, Santorini welcomes more than two million visitors each year. However, the increase in tourists has damaged the area’s architecture, making it worse for tourists climbing the walls to get the perfect shot. Due to the age of the island’s buildings and the number of visitors, the local government had to make a large financial investment to repair the damage, especially from photographers who are always looking for picturesque shots.
19. French Pont Des Arts, Paris
Annual visitors: 30 million
Damage: The bridge sustained severe structural damage.
Travelers and couples have always cherished the Pont Des Arts bridge in Paris.
But the custom of attaching padlocks to the bridge as a symbol of love – which by 2015 had surpassed a million locks – caused considerable structural strain. Due to the weight that accumulated from this loving gesture, authorities had to replace panels and remove locks to slow the bridge’s collapse.
20. USA – Duckbill, Oregon
Annual tourist number: Unknown Damage: Deliberate destruction of buildings
Known for its unusual rock formation that resembled a duck’s head, Duckbill in Oregon attracted tourists because of its distinctiveness. A number of people deliberately pushed this feature down in 2016, apparently out of fear for their safety after a previous incident. Locals were horrified by this act of devastation, which signaled the end of the famous natural feature of the attraction.
21. Bronx, New York, USA “Joker Stairs”
Annual Visitors: Unknown Damage: Impact on community members attempting to use the stairs
The portrayal of a famous scene in the 2019 movie “Joker” helped boost the popularity of the “Joker Stairs” in the Bronx. Tourists often use the stairs for leisure and selfies, making it difficult for locals to access this busy avenue. Tensions stemming from the disruption these tourists cause have led to confrontations between locals and tourists, particularly when someone threw eggs at people taking selfies.
22. The Great Pyramids of Egypt
14.7 million tourists visit annually; damage includes paintings and other worn artifacts.
Every year, millions of tourists flock to see the Great Pyramids of Egypt, a famous tourist destination. The constant stream of visitors inadvertently contributes to the deterioration of the site. There are questions about the long-term preservation of these historic buildings due to things like bags rubbing against the walls and moisture from footsteps inside the hallways.
23. Rome, Italy Spanish Steps
Image courtesy of @dulichvietnam82 on Pinterest
More than 100,000 tourists per year Cause of damage: Damage to the staircase
Often used for pictures, the famous Spanish Steps in Rome have seen a lot of damage over time. The authorities responded by passing strict laws, such as the “no sitting” rule, which imposes fines of up to €400 on offenders. There are restrictions for families with small children, as strollers cannot touch the steps, making it difficult for them to climb to the top and enjoy the view.
24. Stonehenge of the United Kingdom
800,000 visitors per year Caused damage by writing on stones and removing small pieces of stone
Due to a history of theft and vandalism, Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has limited visitor access. Previously, visitors could get up close and touch the stones, but in 1977 theft and damage caused the site to be cordoned off. Due to damage from previous tourists, visitors today cannot approach and touch the stones, limiting their ability to fully enjoy the experience.
25. Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands
Annual number of visitors: 150,000; Impact on wildlife:
The Galapagos Islands are a popular destination for nature lovers thanks to their exceptional biodiversity. The islands are not heavily visited, but over-tourism still poses a threat to them. The local environment and wild animals are seriously threatened by the need to build more hotels due to the increasing number of tourists. Although tourism boosts the local economy, its effects on the island’s fragile ecosystem must be carefully balanced.
The impact of over-tourism on some of the world’s most famous and popular destinations is cause for concern. While travel offers incredible opportunities for discovery and cultural exchange, the overwhelming influx of visitors has led to considerable damage in various places. From environmental degradation to the erosion of cultural heritage, these consequences highlight the need for a more sustainable approach to tourism.
Destinations such as Bali, Venice, Mount Everest, and the Taj Mahal, among others, have faced challenges ranging from overcrowding and pollution to structural damage and endangered wildlife. The allure of perfect moments for social media has inadvertently contributed to the deterioration of these sites.
It is increasingly important for travelers to rethink their choices and seek less-visited alternatives or engage in responsible tourism practices. By spreading awareness and promoting sustainable travel, we can help preserve these treasures for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
The stories of these 25 destinations serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between tourism and nature conservation. Finding a balance that allows for exploration while respecting the environmental and cultural integrity of these sites is essential to preserving their beauty and significance for years to come.