The hidden costs of overtourism: 6 iconic attractions at risk

Tourism serves as one of the riding factors in a country's economy, which means it's great when tourism booms. However, as the saying goes, too much of everything is bad, when tourism led to overtourism, things turned bad for certain tourist spots. As per the records, some of the most popular tourist destinations across the world are suffering greatly from mass tourism, which are harming these historic locations. Here are some of the places that have been impacted by overtourism.

One of the most famous archaeological sites in the world is Machu Picchu, which is situated high in the Andes Mountains. Due to its popularity, mass tourism was the end result, which eventually led to authorities putting into place more stringent visitor limitations and sustainable tourism practices.

This place featured in the popular television series 'Game of Thrones,' and since then its popularity soared to new levels. The mediaeval walled city of Dubrovnik, also referred to as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic,' has experienced a rise in visitors. In addition to damaging historic structures and raising questions about authenticity and cultural preservation, the ensuing crowds have placed a burden on the city's infrastructure.

The Galapagos Islands, which were once a remote paradise, have seen a surge in tourism, with an expected 270,000 tourists each year in 2023 compared to just 1,000 in the 1960s. The biological balance of this UNESCO World Heritage site has been seriously threatened by this mass tourism, the reason why it was designated endangered in 2007. New rules have been put into place to preserve the endangered species and delicate ecology.

Petra, Jordan's crown jewel, was lost to the world for more than a thousand years. Even though fewer people are visiting the historic city because of safety concerns in the area, tourism still poses a threat to its sandstone architecture. This UNESCO monument is further damaged by visitors who ride donkeys, lean against historic walls, and trash. Because the preservation of Petra's historic appeal is at stake, travellers should keep up with travel advisories before making vacation plans.

Due to deterioration from humidity and human breath, the prehistoric Lascaux cave, which has breathtaking cave paintings that are more than 17,000 years old, was permanently closed. After being found in 1940 and made accessible to the public in 1948, the climate of the cave degraded due to the thousands of visitors, which resulted in the spread of algae that damaged the artwork. In 2016, Lascaux 4, a copy of the cave, opened so that tourists could view the artwork without running the danger of causing more harm to the original location.

A well-known tourist destination that is currently struggling with an excessive number of visitors—statistics show that visits increased from 7,650 in 1993 to about 800,000 in 2023. The temple complex is still packed with tourists taking selfies, despite efforts to reduce this by raising entrance fees considerably. Tourists frequently walk along tight trails and touch the elaborate carvings, endangering the fragile sandstone structures.