Tourism is great. Over-tourism can be a crowded pain in the ass. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, these are 2023’s most overly-touristed locales. This overabundance of visitors is great for the local economies but can prove to be a noisy, congested, and miserable experience for visitors hoping for sightseeing, relaxation, and a more intimate experience.
- Amsterdam – Those who want to “go wild” in the city are discouraged from coming…particularly young British men. For fewer crowds, January-March is the best time to go
- Athens – In September, the number of visitors to the Acropolis had to be capped at 20K per day. Visit outside of the July/August window for the best experience
- Bali – Tourism has boomed so much that the country has put out a list of do’s and don’t’s for visitors (no swearing, for example), and tourists will be taxed $10 starting on Valentine’s Day. July, August, December, and January are the busiest months
- Barcelona – It’s gotten so bad that there’s been a backlash against tourists from locals with banners, signs, and graffiti commanding them to “go home”…if you’re going to go anyway, do it outside of the summer months
- Miami – Alcohol and noise restrictions have been implemented to help gain control over what residents feel has become a major problem, making the area feel “more dangerous and less family-friendly”…try visiting between November and April for a better experience
- Paris – In 2022, the Louvre announced that daily visits would be limited to 30K people, and “the squeeze” can definitely be felt at high-profile locations like the Eiffel Tower
- Phuket – “Mass tourism” has led to a more “crowded and polluted” experience for many visitors. In response, the country has actively tried to attract more “health/wellness aficionados, families with kids, active seniors, and remote workers.” There are fewer tourists between May and October, but that’s also monsoon season, so expect rain
- Venice – To help control the influx of visitors, a new tax fee schedule has been released and will take effect starting in April…specifically targeting “day-trippers 15 and older.” It remains to be seen how that affects the problem of “badly behaving tourists” and crowded streets and bridges. For the best experience, from a crowd perspective, November-March is your prime window
Source: CNN