12 Beautiful Places in the World Overwhelmed by Overtourism

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For many countries, tourism is a significant source of income. Without it, some places would even face an economic crisis. Meanwhile, tourism is also important for travelers, as it broadens the mind, enriches the soul, and introduces us to unique cultures and history worldwide. However, tourism isn’t always a good thing.

Unfortunately, overtourism has become a significant issue in cities and countries globally, with overcrowding causing damage to historic sites, environmental emergencies, and tension within local communities.

To raise awareness of the problems, we’ve compiled a list of 12 beautiful places overwhelmed by overtourism. We selected these based on issues with overcrowding, closures due to damage, and environmental catastrophes.

Maya Bay, Thailand

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Maya Bay is the perfect example of how tourism can ruin a good thing. This picturesque bay in the Phi Phi Islands is famed for its breathtaking beach, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and towering limestone cliffs. Accessible only by boat, the bay was a peaceful retreat for travelers for decades. However, after the filming of “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio in 2000, everything changed.

After the movie was released, hordes of tourists visited Maya Bay to see it for themselves, usually as a day trip from Phuket. Sadly, this excessive influx of tourism devastated the coral reef and marine life in the bay. Astonishingly, almost 50% of the coral reefs were destroyed by boat anchors. Therefore, the beach is now closed sporadically to give the bay time to recover.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ capital, is a beautiful city best known for its historical attractions, traditional architecture, vast canal system, and vibrant houses. However, the city is fighting a battle against overtourism due to its popularity. According to Statista, approximately 20 million tourists visit Amsterdam every year. Considering the city has a population of less than one million, this is a real problem.

Certain areas in the city, such as the Museum Quarter and the Red Light District, are under immense strain. Tourists exhibit unfavorable behavior in the latter, which doesn’t sit nicely with locals. In the battle against overtourism, the city has taken several steps. These include limiting vacation rentals, banning new tourist stores, and diverting tourists to less busy attractions.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

In recent years, tourism has increased dramatically in Croatia, and the ancient city of Dubrovnik needs help to cope. Famous for its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik was already a famous European city. However, the increase in cruise ships visiting the city and the filming of Game of Thrones in the city saw tourism levels rise significantly.

There is serious concern that the sheer volume of tourists walking the ancient streets and city walls could cause irreversible damage. Overcrowding and noise levels have also forced residents to leave the Old Town. In 1991, Old Town Dubrovnik had approximately 5,000 residents. Today, the population sits at around 1,550.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is arguably the most iconic ancient landmark in the world. Set high in the Andes Mountains, the Incan Citadel has been a popular tourist attraction for decades. Unfortunately, though, because the journey to Machu Picchu is so accessible, the number of tourists visiting the citadel is ever-increasing.

Just 20 years ago, approximately 400,000 people visited Machu Picchu a year. According to Sky News, the predicted number of visitors to Machu Picchu in 2023 was 2.2 million. As you would expect, this ancient Incan site isn’t built to handle that many people. In fact, due to littering, the erosion of pathways, and visitors climbing on the ruins, UNESCO threatened to place the site on its “List of World Heritage in Danger.”

Boracay, Philippines

Since the early 1990s, Boracay in the Philippines has been a popular tourist destination much loved for its mesmerizing white sand, clear turquoise waters, and lush jungle of palm trees. However, the tiny island faces overtourism and environmental crises due to the increased number of tourists in recent years. Despite being just over 4 miles long (6 kilometers), Boracay welcomes more than two million tourists annually.

As a result, large sections of the island’s White Beach are often jammed with thousands of tourists and lines of sun loungers and umbrellas. Furthermore, the increase has raised serious structural, waste, and trash management issues. These factors have led to pollution of the groundwater table, diseases, and threats to the island’s sustainability.

The Acropolis, Greece

The Acropolis of Athens is an iconic ancient citadel on a rocky outcrop standing proudly above the city. This ancient site is home to several remains of great historical and architectural significance, including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike.

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Due to its popularity, the Acropolis often became overcrowded with tourists. This overcrowding led to safety concerns regarding visitors’ well-being and the ruins’ structural integrity. Luckily, the government has implemented plans to preserve the ruins and reduce the queues. According to the Independent, a new booking system has been implemented that will reduce the number of daily visitors to 20,000.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is a magnificent tropical island famous for its long sandy beaches, artsy towns, rich cultures, lush rice terraces, and dense rainforest. However, as appealing as Bali is, it faces serious tourism issues. Its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, putting immense pressure on the island to keep up with demand.

Unfortunately, though, the island simply can’t keep up. As such, it is struggling with overcrowding, environmental issues, and tourists disrespecting its culture. Problems Bali is currently facing include unplanned resort construction, long traffic delays, poor trash management, and damage to cultural landmarks. Unsurprisingly, the Balinese government is implementing plans to resolve overtourism on the island.

Kyoto, Japan

As tourism figures across Japan continue increasing, smaller cities like Kyoto suffer. Kyoto is best known for its quaint streets, traditional temples, and geishas (female Japanese performing artists). As a result, millions of tourists have been flocking to the city to take photographs and experience everything it offers.

Unfortunately, this has led to overcrowding and other issues. One big issue in Kyoto is the invasion of private property and the bothering of geishas. Some tourists have disrespected Japanese culture by entering private property, while others have even been seen chasing geishas for a photograph. Authorities have introduced fines for anyone caught trespassing or harassing geishas.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is a breathtaking Greek Island in the Aegean Sea, approximately 124 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of mainland Greece. This famous island is best known for its rugged volcanic landscape, beautiful coastline, white-washed houses, and fiery sunsets, making it one of Greece’s most popular places.

According to the Telegraph, more than two million tourists visit Santorini every year. Considering the island has only 15,000 residents, that’s an alarming number. Sadly, this has resulted in overcrowding at most of the island’s most famous landmarks. Long queues can be expected, especially around the iconic Oia viewpoint at sunset. The island is also battling to keep up with the increase in waste disposal and water and energy consumption.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Beautiful Places in the World Overwhelmed by Overtourism Angkor Wat — © Daphnusia / Adobe Stock

Angkor Wat is a vast 12th-century Hindu temple complex in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap. It spans 401.7 acres (162.6 hectares) within the ancient Khmer capital city of Angkor and is home to the largest religious site in the world. Siem Reap happily receives millions of visitors yearly, but Angkor Wat needs help to deal with overcrowding in specific areas.

Due to its popularity, most tourists only visit Angkor Wat’s main temple and Ta Prohm, which appeared in the Tomb Raider Film. Unfortunately, the large crowds are damaging the ruins. The Cambodian government has increased ticket prices to combat overcrowding at Angkor Wat.

Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstatt is a picturesque lakeside village that sits on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt. Tucked away in the Austrian Alps, it’s a colorful village famed for its 16th-century alpine houses, quaint cafes, Evangelical church, and scenic mountain views. However, Hallstatt’s residents are plagued by overcrowding due to the village’s famous viewpoint.

Hallstatt, a famous screensaver image, is home to just over 800 people. However, more than one million people visit annually, leading to overcrowding in the village and unhappy residents. Some locals have had to rope off their properties to prevent trespassing, while others have put up signs telling tourists to keep the noise down.

Spanish Steps, Rome

A stone’s throw away from the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps is a steep climb of 135 steps between Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. Opened in 1725, the steps have long been a popular point of interest in Italy’s capital. However, they became increasingly popular in 1953 when they appeared in the rom-com “Roman Holiday” starring Audrey Hepburn.

Unfortunately, the increased number of tourists visiting the steps resulted in overcrowding, an increase in tourist scams, and trash on the steps. In 2016, the Italian government had to spend almost $1.6 million cleaning them. Today, to keep the area clean and less crowded, tourists are forbidden to sit on the steps.