The 9 Countries Where Tourism Has Become a Social Problem

Spain: Barcelona's Breaking Point

Spain stands as one of the most dramatic examples of tourism turning toxic for local communities. In Barcelona, Spain, 3,000 residents protested on July 6, 2024, demanding reduced tourist numbers and for the government to prioritize fairer economies.

The situation has reached such intensity that in August 2024, Barcelona locals protested over concerns the 32 million annual visitors are driving up housing costs and disrupting local life. The housing crisis hits particularly hard in Barcelona, where short-term rentals have come under fire, with tourism hotspots including New York and Barcelona implementing or announcing bans on Airbnb and other vacation rental platforms.

The city's infrastructure simply cannot handle the massive influx of visitors, with famous destinations like Venice, Bali, and Barcelona already grappling with overcrowding, and the effects were noticeable: from environmental damage to overwhelmed local services and the displacement of residents.

Italy: Venice's Sinking Under Tourist Weight

Venice represents perhaps the most critical case of overtourism in Europe. Forbes reported that the problem stems from the sheer number of visitors who flock to the city daily—over 20 million tourists a year for a city with just over 50,000 residents.

This staggering ratio creates an impossible situation where locals are outnumbered by tourists by 400 to 1. The city's response has been to implement financial barriers, with Venice introducing an access fee for peak-season visitors, next due to be enforced over the 2025 Easter break.

Even more concerning, the overwhelming number of tourists in Venice threatens the city's quality of life and economy. The situation has become so severe that although new regulations have moved these ships further away, the city still struggles under the weight of tourists who visit for just a day, adding to overcrowding but contributing little to the local economy.

Greece: Islands Drowning in Cruise Ship Passengers

Greece's beautiful islands face an overwhelming surge of tourism that's pushing infrastructure to its limits. In 2024, Santorini, Greece reported up to 18,000 cruise passengers overwhelming the island daily, straining resources for its 15,000 residents.

This means that during peak days, tourists outnumber locals by more than 100%. The situation extends beyond Santorini, with residents in Athens and Paros protesting against overtourism, accusing tourists of displacing locals and diluting the city's character on islands like Santorini and Mykonos.

The cruise ship phenomenon creates particularly challenging situations because these visitors stay for just a few hours but create massive congestion and environmental pressure on fragile island ecosystems.

Japan: When 35 Million Visitors Overwhelm Infrastructure

Japan faces a unique overtourism challenge, with Japan anticipating a record-breaking 35 million foreign visitors in 2024, with tourism spending projected to hit JPY 8 trillion ($51 billion). However, this success story has a dark side, as 32 percent of tourists acknowledged that they had encountered overcrowded sites during their visit.

The concentration of visitors in specific areas creates significant problems. The 2024 white paper on tourism highlighted the need to draw more visitors to rural areas, reducing the pressure on Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, where 70% of foreign tourists currently stay.

Local communities are experiencing serious disruption, with a train station in Kamakura related to the popular anime Slam Dunk constantly swarmed with tourists taking photos causing traffic delays.

Iceland: Nature Under Siege

Iceland's pristine landscapes are suffering under the weight of mass tourism. The tourism sector accounted for 8.5% of its gross domestic product in 2023, according to Statistics Iceland, exceeding the 8.2% average recorded during the pre-Covid period of 2016 through to 2019.

The small island nation with only 380,000 residents received just under 2.3 million foreign overnight visitors in 2024. The environmental impact is severe, with Iceland Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson stating "If we see that places are being damaged by the number of people that visit let's say at Geysir where we have the hot springs, we need to take action".

The concentration of visitors creates additional problems, as many travelers stay here briefly and perhaps pop to the Blue Lagoon before moving on, while others may make it to sights that are within a drive of the capital, such as the Golden Circle. This situation has led to overtourism.

Thailand: Paradise Islands Forced to Close

Thailand's stunning islands have become victims of their own beauty. In 2018, Thailand's Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay welcomed up to 6,000 daily visitors resulting in overtourism.

The government temporarily closed the island from 2018 to 2022 to recover from the effects of overtourism. This drastic measure highlights how severe the situation became.

The environmental devastation was so complete that Thailand's Maya Bay, popularized by the film "The Beach," was closed to tourists for several years to allow its damaged ecosystem to recover. This case demonstrates how unchecked tourism can literally destroy the very attractions that draw visitors in the first place.

The coral reefs and marine life couldn't survive the constant pressure from thousands of daily visitors.

Indonesia: Bali's Cultural Identity Crisis

Bali faces a complex overtourism crisis that threatens both its environment and cultural heritage. Bali, famous for its serene beaches and vibrant culture, has seen a dramatic rise in tourists, resulting in traffic congestion, pollution, and strain on local resources.

The Balinese government has responded by promoting sustainable tourism practices and encouraging visitors to explore alternative regions within the island. The government has implemented significant measures to address the crisis, including a ban on tourist activities on all 22 of Bali's sacred mountains.

However, the challenge remains immense, with the Spanish island of Lanzarote moved to desaturate the island by calling the industry to focus on quality tourism rather than quantity. This shift to quality, or higher yielding, tourists has been mirrored in many other destinations, like Bali, for example.

Portugal: Lisbon's Locals Priced Out

Portugal has experienced explosive tourism growth that's fundamentally changing its cities. Portugal, which also has struggled with overtourism challenges, saw a 26% increase in arrivals in 2024 — and its popularity shows no signs of waning, as the country continues to rank high on lists of best countries to visit.

This rapid growth has created serious affordability issues for local residents. The housing crisis particularly affects Lisbon and Porto, where tourism-driven gentrification has displaced long-term residents.

The situation mirrors problems seen in other European cities, where the conversion of residential properties to short-term rentals has fundamentally altered neighborhood dynamics and pushed locals out of city centers.

Czech Republic: Prague's Nightlife Problem

Prague faces a unique overtourism challenge centered around disruptive nightlife tourism. In October 2024, Prague, Czechia announced that guided bar-hopping tours will be banned after 10pm to reduce disruptions from rowdy tourists.

This measure reflects the serious quality of life issues facing residents in the historic city center. The city's beautiful architecture and affordable prices have made it a magnet for party tourism, creating tensions between the economic benefits of tourism and the need to preserve livability for residents.

The government recognizes that uncontrolled tourism can damage the very character that makes Prague attractive to visitors.

Mallorca: Island Paradise Lost

Mallorca's stunning beaches and lively nightlife draw millions of visitors, but the surge in tourism has made housing unaffordable for many locals. In 2024, protests erupted, calling for stricter limits on tourist numbers.

The situation has become so severe that in July 2024, Palma de Mallorca, Spain saw 20,000 people demonstrate against mass tourism. The environmental impact is equally concerning, with overcrowded beaches and traffic jams starting to tarnish the island's charm, while waste and water usage strain the environment.

Local authorities are now implementing new rules aiming to prioritize sustainability by 2025, but the damage to community cohesion and environmental quality has already been substantial.

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