Travel has become easier for people around the world because of technology, low-cost airlines, and visa relaxations. Although this has enabled more people to behold the wonders around the world, it also caused a phenomenon called overtourism. Overtourism refers to the excessive surge of people to a particular famous place, putting pressure on the local ecosystems, communities, and infrastructure. A few of the most famous destinations in the world are being affected because of over-tourism.
Here are some locations that are being negatively impacted by mass tourism.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali’s stunning beaches, verdant surroundings, and lively culture make it a well-liked holiday destination for tourists around the world. However, the authorities are struggling to keep up with the increasing number of visitors, which is causing problems like traffic jams, environmental degradation, and conflicts between locals and tourists over land and water rights.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat which features Southeast Asia’s most iconic temple complexes has seen a tremendous increase in terms of tourists. While the city of Siem Reap welcomes tourists year-round and depends heavily on tourism, the problem is that most of the tourists only go to the main Angkor Wat temple. The Cambodian government has increased entry charges and relocated ticket booths to a more remote location to prevent human traffic congestion, as the enormous crowds are causing damage to the ruins.
Rome, Italy
Due to the excessive number of tourists, several of Rome’s most well-known attractions, including the magnificent Colosseum, have suffered from damage and stone theft. Similar to this, visitors were forbidden to sit on the city’s well-known Spanish stairs in 2019 after they were found stained with wine and hardened gum.
Borracao, Philliphines
Known as one of the most popular tourism destinations in Asia, Boracay Island has suffered greatly due to pollution and congestion. Popular tourist destinations on the island were closed for six months in 2018 by the authorities for rehabilitation. Since then, there has been an attempt to make tourism sustainable, but many who are having a hard time making ends meet have fiercely opposed this.
Milan, Italy
Milan, Italy’s thriving fashion hub, has lately become one of the towns facing overtourism. Milan authorities recently imposed laws intended to reduce late-night activities after incidents of disruptions and disturbances by visitors were reported. These measures included setting closing dates for outdoor dining plans and prohibiting the sale of pizza and ice cream after specified hours.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is finding it difficult to keep up with the surge of tourists. Dubrovnik reportedly became a tourist hotspot after it was 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’s Mayor, Mato Frankovic declared in 2019 that the city will only permit two cruise ships per day in 2019 and a maximum of 5,000 passengers.
While tourism promotes international harmony, provides an 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 awareness among visitors to protect the local heritage.
