Be careful about the destinations you choose for your next getaways! Some cities should now be avoided, not because of any danger, but precisely because they have become too popular.
Every year, at the end of winter, many of us think about vacation, dreaming of a change of scenery and good times, most often in the sun. And to prepare memorable trips, we go in search of pleasant places; by relying on the opinions of friends, ideas from magazines and the advice of specialists, even influencers.
However, in this quest for the ideal stay, it is important to be wary of certain destinations. Not for reasons of security or accessibility, but, more surprisingly, because of a new evil which is increasingly hitting very popular places: overtourism.
In fact, some places are so busy that they become unpleasant. Not only do we have to face the world arriving en masse by plane or liner, which does not facilitate visits and walks, but we also have to be wary of prices that rise artificially – and sometimes abusively, with the scams that result. in restaurants, hotels and shops – and face the discontent of locals who feel invaded, especially when certain tourists without embarrassment respect nothing.
So, if you want to go abroad this year, avoid going to Italy as much as possible. Starting with the capital. Since in 2025, Rome will welcome millions of Catholics due to the Holy Year. A Catholic Church event that takes place every 25 years and brings together believers from all over the world in the heart of the Eternal City.
Also avoid Venice. It is one of the cities most affected by overtourism, a phenomenon that it is now seeking to combat. Thus, the municipality has decided to implement a tourist tax of 5 euros per visitor between the months of April and July. In addition, tourist groups are limited to 25 people and cruise ships are no longer allowed to enter the port.
Still in Europe, avoid Barcelona, a superb city very popular with young people who like to party without limits. So much so that the exasperated locals spray the tourists with water guns! Ditto for islands like the Canaries or Majorca, where signs display “Your luxury, our misery”. The same goes for several European cities that are victims of overtourism such as Prague, Lisbon, Amsterdam and even Dubrovnik, in Croatia, which became very popular with the series Game of Thrones.
On the Asian continent, certain destinations should also be banned. Like Bali, which was inspired by Venice. The Indonesian country is increasingly popular for its attractive prices and seasonal rentals, but overtourism is degrading local customs and fine sandy beaches. A tourist tax of 9 euros has therefore been put in place to finance environmental protection.
This list is obviously not exhaustive and we could include more surprising destinations like Everest, which has attracted more and more curious people since the documentary by the influencer Inoxtag and which has suffered from tons of waste for years. and excrement left by budding climbers.
Also, instead of blindly following the crowd and the not always disinterested advice of influencers, take the time to look for more original and less frequent destinations for your next getaways. And no need to go to the other side of the world to get a change of scenery: France and Europe are full of magnificent and preserved places where you will be well received.