Tourists Ruined These Priceless (And Irreplaceable) Destinations

Tourists Per Year: 6.3 million*
Damages: Cultural degradation

The very mention of Bali conjures up images of a peaceful experience in one of the most blissful places in the world, but is that the reality? Over the past decade, the destination has become more and more popular, seeing over six million people flock to the country every year. 

Bali, Indonesia @deviantworld / Pinterest.com

While it has helped boost the economy, some people believe the cultural feel and spirituality have diminished as a result. Numerous newspapers and articles posted on sites like Facebook lament the loss of “the magic of Bali.” However, this is up for debate.

Tourists Per Year: 5.5 million*
Damages: Impact on locals, pollution 

Venice is one of the most unique places in the world thanks to its intricate waterway system. Most of us are used to seeing roads connecting houses, not houses built on water. As a result, the Italian city is very popular with visitors, attracting around 5.5 million a year. 

Venice, Italy @wanderwisdom / Pinterest.com

Some local businesses thrive from the influx, but tourism can create issues for locals. Residents can find it hard to go about their usual business in the peak months with such a high amount of tourists around. Tourists mean more queues and more of a strain on local services, but we don’t see that in the movies. 

Tourists Per Year: 1,000*
Damages: Pollution

Mount Everest is the one to beat for experienced climbers, but it’s not exactly an easy task. Climbers bring tons of equipment with them, as do their teams. Even the most well-meaning teams can end up leaving somewhat of a trail of trash behind them, from food wrappers to oxygen tanks. 

Mount Everest, Nepal @outsidemagazine / Pinterest.com

Although the number of people that climb Everest is less than 1,000 a year, the environmental impact is notable. Plus, it’s not unusual to see big groups of climbers at the same time, which can be a logistical nightmare. 

Tourists Per Year: 1 million*
Damages: Impact on sacred site, damage to sandstone 

Petra in Jordan is a site of major historical importance, with intricately carved temples situated in gorgeous pink sandstone cliffs. Given its meaning, it’s natural that tourists would want to see it in person. However, the site is delicate and with over 1 million people milling through there every year, it has to take its toll. 

Petra, Jordan ©EyesTravelling / Shutterstock.com

Sandstone isn’t the toughest material out there, so it can easily be worn down. What’s more, some also believe that the sacredness of the site is being erased because of the sheer volume of people that go through there every year. 

Tourists Per Year: 4 million*
Damages: Dying coral reefs  

The island of Cozumel is set just off the coast of Mexico in the Caribbean Sea. Thanks to its location, the site is surrounded by blue water and is home to some truly spectacular sites. It’s a popular tourist destination, with over four million visitors stepping foot on the island in 2018. 

Cozumel, Mexico @ciaogigi / Pinterest.com

The island is home to around 100,000 people, which seems like a paltry amount considering just how many visitors it gets. Although a lot of businesses rely on the tourist industry to stay afloat, Cozumel is starting to see the impact of over-tourism. Some of the fauna on the island is already endangered, as are some animals, and the once-beautiful coral reefs are bleaching at an alarming rate.

Tourists Per Year: 500,000*
Damages: Severe damage to the site, including toppled walls 

Machu Picchu in Peru is legendary as one of the few remaining sites from the Inca era. Over 500,000 people visit the historical citadel every year. While most are respectful, accidents can and do happen. In 2020, a group of tourists visited the site at night, causing a stone wall to topple. 

Macchu Pichu, Peru ©Giantrabbit / Shutterstock.com

The wall, which was part of the Temple of the Sun, fell around 20 feet and caused further damage to the floor. It’s not clear exactly how much it would have cost to repair the priceless site, but it can’t have been cheap – or easy. 

Tourists Per Year: 80,000*
Damages: $5-10 million per year to throw the festival, including clean up*

It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when Burning Man was a much smaller festival that was only visited by a tight-knit group of people. Over the years, the reputation of the Nevada-based event grew, causing more and more revelers to buy tickets. 

Burning Man, Nevada, USA @blaxkorion / Pinterest.com

Now, around 80,000 people flock to the festival each year. As you might expect, the cost of throwing the festival has skyrocketed, both literally and to the surrounding environs. The end bill is somewhere in the region of $10 million, with a large portion of that allocated to the immense clean-up, as the festival is taking a toll on the Black Rock desert.

Tourists Per Year: 6 million visit the Bahamas*
Damages: Pig deaths, pollution

There are plenty of things tourists expect to see when visiting an island in the Bahamas, but pigs swimming in the water isn’t necessarily one of them. Pig Beach is a specific spot located in Exuma, an island in the Bahamas. To tourists, it’s just a fun place to take Insta-worthy pictures, but to a colony of feral pigs, it’s home. 

Pig Island, The Bahamas @dailymail / Pinterest.com

Needless to say, visitors love seeing the pigs rolling around in the sand and taking a dip in the crystal-clear water. You might spot several snaps of the pot-bellied cuties on sites like Pinterest. Unfortunately, with the increased number of tourists comes people who feed the pigs human food and garbage, which has been making them sick. 

Tourists Per Year: 200,000+*
Damages: Severe damage to the walls 

There are some things in the world that make for unlikely tourist destinations. Bubble Gum Alley in San Luis Obispo, California, is one of them. The downtown hotspot is a popular destination as it’s 20-meters-long and covered in chewing gum left by previous visitors. 

Bubble Gum Alley, San Luis Obispo, California ©Paul Harris/Getty Images

It’s probably not the most hygienic place to visit in the world, but it’s certainly one of the most unique. The damage caused to the wall reaches up into the tens of thousands, with some locals calling it an eye-sore that should be fixed.

Tourists Per Year: 3 million*
Damages: Untold damages from partiers

Ibiza, an island in Spain, has been a destination for those wanting to let loose on the club scene for years. With plenty of huge bars and clubs to choose from and bustling nightlife, tourists often flock to the city in their droves.

Ibiza, Spain @Siiibo / Pinterest.com

That being said, the hedonistic, all-you-can-drink atmosphere isn’t always great news for Ibiza. Tourism trade is essential, but it also means that there is more damage that can all stack up to create a hefty bill. The local culture has been all but obliterated, and the noise pollution and trash left by partiers are destructive to the local environment. 

Tourists Per Year: 1.3 million*
Damages: Severe overcrowding 

As a country, Switzerland is breathtakingly beautiful, with plenty of natural sites and wonders to appease the weary traveler. It has acquired quite a reputation, with over 1.3 million tourists visiting the area every year, which detracts from the natural beauty of the location. 

Lake Lucerne, Switzerland ©DNieuwland/Shutterstock.com

The main issue regarding Lake Lucerne and the amount of tourists that visit is just how busy it can become. In 2018, a cliff-diving event saw tons of visitors take to the lakes on inflatable rafts, but it was so incredibly busy that they were all bumper to bumper. Needless to say, the threat of drowning multiplies during this time. 

Tourists Per Year: 4.4 million*
Damages: Severe overcrowding 

The Taj Mahal is a truly striking palace that sees over 4.4 million people visit it each year. It is undeniably one of the most important tourist attractions in India, but while the country is happy with the economic boost, it can also present an issue. 

Taj Mahal, India @travelhad / Pinterest.com

In a bid to stomp out overcrowding, the local government decided to put up ticket prices and introduce a fine for those that stay at the location for too long. Even with this, visitors flock in their droves to the Taj, seemingly undeterred. This makes it difficult for anyone to snap that perfect picture of the beautiful landmark.

Tourists Per Year: 29 million (Hanoi)*
Damages: Puts locals at risk

Vietnam is a tourist hotspot for many reasons, but one street, in particular, used to be incredibly popular with tourists. Train Street in Hanoi fascinated visitors because of the 117-year-old railway track that runs straight through a bustling street lined with cafes and homes. 

Hanoi's "Train Street", Vietnam @henkscheijbeler / Pinterest.com

It was all well and good until legions of selfie-taking tourists became an issue. The sheer number of people stopping to take photos made the operating train track a hazard. In 2019, the local authorities ordered all local businesses to close their doors on the street to put off visitors. 

Tourists Per Year: 300,000*
Damages: Devastation to the fauna 

Iceland has plenty of scenic spots, but the Fjadrargljufur Canyon only became popular after featuring in a Justin Bieber music video in 2015. After that, more people flocked to the site than ever before, with visitor numbers increasing by over 100,000 per year. 

Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Iceland @abodheiman / Pinterest.com

What was once a nice place for locals to walk became a worldwide sensation. Sadly, the increase in numbers meant that a lot of the local fauna was totally devastated by the foot traffic. In 2019, local authorities were forced to temporarily close the canyon in order to do some maintenance work.