10 Beautiful Places Overwhelmed by Overtourism

Tourist dollars can be hard to resist, especially for countries that rely on tourism as a major industry. But when the crowds keep pouring in, over-tourism brings with it major headaches like environmental damage and places losing their authentic vibe. Recently, we’ve seen how locals are feeling the pressure, too.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. Travelers have been seasonally crowding certain places since air travel made it easy to do so. But the issue has taken a dark turn since the dawn of social media influencers, some of whom can attract thousands of visitors to a single cafe.

There is a delicate balance to strike between preserving the industry without overcrowding. Here are some of the world’s most beautiful places that have recently made the news for being a bit too busy:

10. Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto’s tourism industry has gone from zero to 100 in the blink of an eye. The more relaxed alternative to Tokyo, it’s famous for its traditional temples, peaceful gardens, and unique Geisha culture.

Each year, cherry blossom trees bloom and scatter the city with pink confetti petals. But the crowds that come with this seasonal bloom make it hard to appreciate its beauty. The Gion District, famous for its traditional machiya houses, has also been hit hard by over-tourism.

Thankfully, Japan has a better handle on tourism than many other places. They actively encourage Travelers to visit during off-peak seasons and explore other parts of the country. In Gion, the government has placed signs to prohibit photos in certain places and restrict short-term rentals to manage the iNFLux of tourists.

9. Machu Picchu, Peru

Unlike other places on this list, Machu Picchu stands as a singular attraction rather than an area home to a collection of tourist spots. The ruins of this 15th-century Incan city are one of the most famous and breathtaking archeological sites in the world.

Unfortunately, the ancient Incan population didn’t build the Andean city to hold so much traffic, especially tourists who disrespectfully climb over the eroding site and leave a trail of litter in their wake.

While any historic site wishes to get onto the UNESCO list, none want to make the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger. While the delicate landscape is at serious risk of destruction, Machu Picchu faces a unique challenge in balancing its tourism with the site’s preservation.

8. Venice, Italy

Venice’s canals, gondola rides, and artistic heritage are just a few elements that attract hoards of tourists each year. Unfortunately, this Italian charm and beauty comes at a cost, with huge crowds of travelers visiting the small island city each year.

Less than a third of Venice’s daily tourists spend the night. They bring with them all the congestion and noise but barely any cash for the local economy. To control these numbers, the city now charges a nominal ‘entry fee’ for day-trippers.

Aside from classic over-tourism issues like crowding, the entire island is also facing the threat of rising sea levels. Yes. Venice is sinking. But it’s not just sea levels that are rising; Venice has become so expensive that many multi-generational locals are being forced to leave the city for a more affordable Lifestyle.

7. Boracay, Philippines

If you close your eyes and imagine a tropical paradise, chances are you’ll dream up a vision that resembles The Philippines. It’s one of those places where you can spend your mornings surfing over a crystal clear reef and afternoons sipping negronis on the beach – all without overshooting the budget.

But with every beautiful and affordable destination comes incomprehensible crowding… This gorgeous island fell into complete disarray, with damaged coral reefs and algae issues, illegal fishing, and pollution leaving the ocean a no-swim zone.

In an attempt to rehabilitate the islands’ ecosystems and restock resources, the government closed the island to tourists for six months in 2018. It has since reopened with some extra measures put in place to prevent the island from finding itself in the same situation in the future.

6. Santorini, Greece

You’ve no doubt seen the photos of a Santorini sunset. The island wows visitors with its white-washed buildings with classic blue domes strung together by winding stairs and cobblestone streets.

Although the Greek Isles are made up of over six thousand islands and islets, travelers flock to the same few hotspots to get their Greek fix. Santorini’s tourist numbers have grown more than five times in the past ten years, thanks to cruise ships and affordable flights.
With it, the island has struggled with an overuse of water and energy at a pace that is simply not sustainable.

5. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Once upon a time, Dubrovnik was a relaxed Adriatic beach destination famous for its fresh seafood. Then came Game of Thrones. Now, tourists flood these narrow historic streets to get a peak at the iconic walls used to film the series.

The charm of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is undeniable, but cruise ships and day trippers have turned it into a flooded tourism hotspot. Day trippers bring a lot of traffic and noise while spending very little money. While the city has put measures in place to reduce crowds, Dubrovnik is seriously struggling to maintain its authentic Medieval appeal.

4. Bali, Indonesia

Bali sits at the top of most travelers’ bucket lists. It’s famous for its lush rice terraces, serene temples, and gorgeous beaches. And let’s not forget the bustling nightlife scene. In a chase for the laid-back island life and Instagram-worthy backdrops, tourists have flooded this small Indonesian island.

The bad part? Bali’s popularity has led to bad traffic, a strain on the island’s resources, and litter so bad it will (figuratively and physically) make you ill. Areas like Ubud, Kuta, and Seminyak have caught so much tourist attention that the beaches have become overdeveloped with modern hotels and beach clubs that totally deflect from the island’s peaceful Hindu charm.

3. Hallstatt, Austria

This picturesque Austrian lakeside village looks like it fell straight off the pages of a fairytale. Surrounded by the Alps and a mirror-flat lake, it’s no wonder Hallstatt attracts visitors from across the world.

Yet, since the town is so small, many tourists visit on day trips. This means double the number of tourists with half the money spent on hotel rooms or restaurants. During summer and around Christmas, travelers crowd the lakefront and village square, snapping photos in every direction. They make it tough for locals to maintain their peaceful lifestyle. After all, why else would you choose to live in a small lakeside town in Austria?

2. Maya Bay, Thailand

Maya Bay grew to fame after ‘The Beach’ was filmed here. It’s a natural gem of Thailand, with classic clear water and dramatic limestone cliffs rising from soft sand beaches.

Beaches comfortable for a couple of hundred tourists are seen squeezing thousands onto the same small patch of sand. Call it what you want, but this is paradise-lost.

Not only is this overcrowding pretty bleak for locals and tourists, but it has a huge impact on the environmental ecosystem. Island ecosystems are especially fragile, with coral reefs damaged by snorkelers’ feet and footpaths carving scars through the tropical foliage.

1. Barcelona, Spain

We’ve all seen the headlines about overtourism protests in Barcelona. The locals are fed up, and it’s understandable why. Among crowding issues, hoards of tourists mean rising prices for those who live in the city full-time.

Between its blend of Gothic architecture, tapas bars, and sunny beaches, Barcelona is irresistible for tourists.

As the biggest port in the Mediterranean, cruise ships flood the waters throughout the summer months. With them come tens of thousands of day-trippers who crowd public spaces without contributing to the local economy. In fact, it has gotten so bad that the mayor has banned coach buses from the city center and cut the number of available hotels and Airbnb beds.