Places That Suffered The Consequences Of Too Many Tourists

The boom in tourism worldwide has been spectacular over the last couple of decades. There were times when travel was the privilege of few. Today cheap airfares and accommodations have brought travel within reach of most. There is always a price to pay and the downside here is not only the carbon footprint but also the tourist traps and those places that have become so crowded that people end up stepping on each others' toes. And being hated by the locals.

Venice, Italy

Venetians are one of the most militant against tourists. And no wonder – there are about 55,000 tourists visiting Venice every day.
The tourists are seen as enemies and several restrictions have been put in place. For example luggage with wheels is not allowed.

Rome, Italy

The authorities and residents of Rome too are fed up. With tourist wading into the fountains or polluting the monuments the authorities have come up with a strict list of restrictions.
For example no sitting on the Spanish Steps so as not to block the way of the passers by.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China. Overcrowded at any given time.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu in Peru had a problem dealing with the overwhelming numbers of tourists. As of 2019 the restriction of 2500 tourists has been enforced and one must be accompanied by a guide.

Maya Bay, Thailand

The television has also played its role. Maya Bay in Thailand saw an explosion in visitors after the movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
The sheer numbers of tourists resulted in damage to corals and the environment. The Bay has now been closed and will remain so until the middle of 2021.

Taj Mahal, India

Visited mostly by the Indian citizens the Taj Mahal saw numbers going up enormously. Now they are restricted to 40,000 per day. This number itself gives an indication of the uncontrollable and massive inflows earlier.

Boracay, Philippines

Boracay in the Philippines was once truly a paradise with blue transparent waters that allowed you to see the corals, stunning beaches and virgin nature. That was until the 1990s.
Since the numbers climbed to several million each year the toll was heavy. They had to close it off several times and eventually set up new rules. Today it would appear Boracay once again enjoys its former glory. 6500 people are allowed per day. One of the problems was algave.

Photos: Shutterstock

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