6 famous tourist attractions around the world struggling with overtourism

Traveling has become easier for people around the world thanks to technology, low-cost airlines and visa relaxations. While this has allowed more people to witness the wonders of the world, it has also caused a phenomenon called overtourism. Overtourism refers to the excessive influx of people to a famous location, putting pressure on local ecosystems, communities and infrastructure. Some of the world’s most famous destinations are affected by overtourism.

Here are some places that are negatively impacted by mass tourism.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali’s stunning beaches, lush green surroundings and vibrant culture make it a popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world. However, authorities are struggling to cope with the growing number of visitors, leading to problems such as traffic jams, environmental degradation and conflicts between locals and tourists over land and water rights. ‘water.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, home to Southeast Asia’s most iconic temple complexes, has seen a huge increase in tourist numbers. While the city of Siem Reap welcomes tourists all year round and relies heavily on tourism, the problem is that most tourists only go to the main temple of Angkor Wat. The Cambodian government has increased entrance fees and moved ticket booths to a more remote location to avoid human traffic jams as huge crowds cause damage to the ruins.

Rome, Italy

Due to excessive tourist numbers, several of Rome’s best-known attractions, including the magnificent Colosseum, have suffered damage and stone theft. Similarly, visitors were banned from sitting on the city’s famous Spanish stairs in 2019 after they were found stained with wine and hardened gum.

Borracao, Philippines

Known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia, the island of Boracay has suffered greatly from pollution and traffic jams. Popular tourist destinations on the island were closed for six months in 2018 by authorities for rehabilitation. Since then, attempts have been made to make tourism sustainable, but many of those struggling to make ends meet are fiercely opposed.

Milan, Italy

Milan, a thriving hub of Italian fashion, has recently become one of the cities facing overtourism. Authorities in Milan recently imposed laws aimed at reducing night-time activities after incidents of disruption and nuisance from visitors were reported. These measures included setting closing dates for outdoor dining and banning the sale of pizza and ice cream after specified hours.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is struggling to keep up with the influx of tourists. Dubrovnik is said to have become a tourist hotspot after being featured in the popular Hollywood show Game of Thrones. The influx of visitors has strained the city’s infrastructure, leading to damage to historic sites and raising concerns about maintaining its cultural authenticity. Following this, Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic said in 2019 that the city would only allow two cruise ships per day in 2019 and a maximum of 5,000 passengers.

While tourism promotes international harmony, enables the exchange of cultures and boosts economies, a strategy is needed to address the problem of overtourism. These may include regulation, sustainable travel methods and raising visitor awareness about protecting local heritage.