Sites Destroyed by Tourists

Some places get more and more tourists each year, resulting in a growing amount of littering, personal marks, and other types of damage that are, slowly but surely, destroying some of our favorite tourist spots. Here are some locations that particularly suffered due to the influx of people from other countries.

Boracay Island, Philippines

What do you get when you cross bad plumbing, irresponsible tourists, and a beautiful beach? Well, as the President of Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte put it, a cesspool. Boracay Island had to be closed to the general public for six months in 2018, due to the fact that a huge number of tourists visited it each year to enjoy the sand and the beach. Why should something like this demand such action? The accommodations for tourists often featured sub-par plumbing, often dumping all of the waste into the ocean. This made the water not just unpleasant, but a biohazard as well.

The Great Wall of China

It is not enough that the Great Wall suffers due to neglect and erosion, but it also must endure a combination of greedy locals and tourists. As it turns out, huge chunks of the wall have gone missing due to the locals selling bricks as souvenirs. It would appear that neither party is aware of the fact that the bricks don’t naturally grow back on this marvel and, if the problem is not addressed properly soon, we may lose yet another treasure from the past.

Venice, Italy

Venice is certainly a romantic place, but it is facing several problems, including rising sea levels. The logistics of dealing with the issue become increasingly more difficult due to over-tourism. It simply means that there are too many people visiting Venice each year, making everyday life there impossible, even without other issues Italy is facing, and there are plenty. To remedy the situation, the authorities have started charging the tourists to even enter the city. Hopefully, this will turn away all but the most eager tourists.

Paris, France

Dubbed the most romantic city in the world, there are several issues that the non-stop influx of tourists causes to the local population. First of all, the foot traffic significantly raises the already high cost of living there. Secondly, leaving the traditional mark on the place, like with a padlock on Pont des Arts is fine with a few people doing it, but the bridge is now completely covered in padlocks and there are countless keys in the river.

Bhutan

The entire country of Bhutan was right to keep away from the visitors until the 70s. It is easy to understand its appeal: with its natural beauty and monasteries, the place seems out of this world. Sadly, pollution has grown significantly ever since tourists have been allowed to enter. Similarly to Venice, there is a financial toll for anyone willing to visit and it is steep – over $200 per day of traveling around the country with a guide.