10. Boracay, Philippines
Boracay is considered one of the most overrated tourist destinations in Asia, and it has suffered a huge loss due to overcrowding and the pollution that comes with it. In 2018, the island's popular tourist attractions were locked down for six months. Since then, efforts have been made to make tourism sustainable, but there has been backlash from those who are struggling to make ends meet.
9. Mount Everest, Nepal
The least likely place on earth to see traffic jams is the slopes of Mount Everest, but that's exactly where mass tourism brings us. Even more shocking is the local Sherpa collaboration to collect piles of garbage and debris. Between 2019 and 2023, 110 tonnes of garbage were collected during the mountain clean-up and are expected to resume in 2024.
8. Dubrovnik, Croatia
The city's Old Town is King's Landing from the HBO TV series Game of Thrones, resulting in an influx of tourists into this already crowded place. The increase in foot traffic and cruise ship visitors could cause irreparable damage to the ancient building, after which the city set a cap on the number of cruise ships and tourists allowed into the city.
7. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, with cruise ships calling all year round. In addition to rising housing prices, mass tourism is putting pressure on public transport and waste management in cities. Recently, the city raised the tourist tax to €3.25 to ensure that this beautiful place is not spoiled by overtourism.
6. Rome, Italy
Many of Rome's most popular attractions, such as the majestic Colosseum, are influenced by mass tourism, and graffiti and stone theft are rampant. Similarly, the city's famous Spanish steps are covered with wine stains and dry gum, so much so that in 2019 the city even banned tourists from sitting on the steps.
5. Santorini, Greece
The Greek island of Santorini is a hot spot for summer vacationers because of its beautiful views and white stone buildings. Worryingly, the island received about 2 million tourists in 2019, despite having a local population of about 15,000 people. Although the Santorini municipality has been controlling the number of daily cruise ship passengers on the island, Santorini still suffers from overcrowding.
4. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The archipelago of Ecuador is known for its incredible biodiversity and stunning lava plateaus. However, overtourism became a concern, so much so that in 2007, the Galapagos Islands were added to the United Nations list of World Heritage Sites considered at risk. As of 2010, the archipelago has been removed from the list, however, unbridled tourism continues to pose a threat to the sustainable development of the region. By 2024, the tourist tax for visitors from most countries to enter the islands will be doubled.
3. Maya Bay, Thailand
Maya Bay was the filming location for Danny Boyle's The Beach (2000), starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Since then, the beach has welcomed a large number of tourists every year, ignoring the natural beauty of the island. In 2018, it was estimated that nearly 50% of the nearby corals were destroyed by anchors, shark populations dropped significantly, and the beach was closed to tourists. Since 2022, beaches have reopened with the introduction of sustainable protocols.
2. Venice, Italy
The floating city of Venice is one of the most famous holiday destinations in Europe. The constant influx of tourists into the city has pushed up the cost of housing and living, forcing many locals to move out of the city. To date, any efforts to combat overtourism have been ineffective. In April 2024, the city imposed a temporary tourist fee of 5 euros on daily visitors, however, the move was met with strong opposition from locals and tourists, leading to clashes between protesters and the city's riot police.
1. Machu Picchu, Peru
Ironically, this city, which was completely abandoned until more than a century ago, is now one of the most beautiful places in the world due to overtourism. Due to the threat of tourists destroying the city's fabric, UNESCO has repeatedly warned the Peruvian government and even said that the city could be included in the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2016. Currently, the Peruvian government has set a cap, however, with 4,500 tourists coming to the city every day, overcrowding remains an issue for the sustainable development of tourism in Machu Picchu.