11 Attractions Ruined by Inconsiderate Tourist Behavior

Across the world, select locations inspire visits from tourists. Some of these locations, through happenstance, circumstance, or prominent features in the media, attract thousands if not millions of visitors every year. The problem is, however, that many of these attractions are ill-equipped to handle the influx of visitors. Furthermore, bad behavior from tourists has ruined many of the best tourist attractions in the world. 

For many of these tourist attractions, tourism acts as a prominent boon to their economies. The influx of visitors, however, causes profound problems in the locations, including pollution, crowding, and bad behavior. Since many of these locations rely heavily on tourist dollars, it leaves them between a rock and a hard place; unable to turn away visitors while suffering from their presence. In this article, we will explore 11 tourist locations ruined by bad tourist behavior and how they took steps to combat the influx of visitors.

To compile a list of the 11 tourist attractions ruined by bad tourist behavior, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of tourism, news, and entertainment publications including Travel Weekly. Next, we selected tourist attractions and locations most affected by the influx of tourists and increasing bad behavior from visitors. After that, we confirmed aspects of the different situations using sites like NBCNews and The Guardian. (For other disappearing hotspots, discover travel destinations that may not be around in as little as a decade.)

Outside of the Piazza di Spagna in Rome sits the Spanish Steps, a wide expanse of stairs leading through the historic city. After being immortalized in the Audrey Hepburn rom-com "Roman Holiday," tourists have flocked to the location for decades, hoping to get the perfect picture to show off to their friends back home.

Thanks to this influx of tourism, however, the Spanish steps transformed from an ornate city staircase into one awash in wine stain and used gum. Though the city spent $1.68 million to restore the steps to their former glory in 2016, tourists quickly dirtied them. In response, the Italian government made it illegal to sit on the steps at all, fining violators between $280 and $448 for the malfeasance.

Another one of the tourist attractions ruined by bad tourist behavior is Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon in Southeast Iceland. Translated as the "feather river" in English, the canyon features steep, colorful rock walls surrounding the winding Fjaðrá river. Though it dates back almost two million years to the Ice Age, a few media spotlights turned the beautiful and desolate landmark into a haven for tourists.

After its feature in the "Game of Thrones" television series and appearance in a Justin Bieber music video, the famed canyon closed due to damage wrought by overzealous and disrespectful tourists. Despite the ban, various tourists have surreptitiously visited the natural formations, with some even attempting to bribe the park rangers. Regarding the situation, Environment Minister Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson said, "Rash behavior by one famous person can dramatically impact an entire area if the mass follows."

The Komodo Islands in Indonesia are famed for their population of large, prehistoric-looking lizards known as Komodo dragons. The islands closed for at least 12 months in 2019 due to overcrowding of visitors, bad tourist behaviors, and even poaching.

With an already dwindling supply of dragons at 1,800, the islands were pushed past the bring after authorities caught smugglers attempting to steal 41 Komodo dragons to sell on the market for tens of thousands of dollars each. In response, the government closed the island for at least a year to monitor the endangered species' population and safeguard against all types of bad visitor behavior.

Bloemenmarkt sits squarely in the middle of Amsterdam and earned worldwide renown for its unique flower shops on floating barges. It dates back to 1943 when flower sellers received shipments of flowers on the canal before turning around and selling them on the nearby barges. Thanks to heavy tourism, however, these historic shops slowly but surely transformed into hastily constructed tourist stalls selling gimmicks and cheap tourist souvenirs.

With nearly 20 million tourists visiting Amsterdam every year, it's unsurprising that they managed to ruin the Bloemenmarkt. In response, the last of the original florists closed shop. Due to the influx of tourists crowding out serious flower customers, the unique market closed its doors. As the last florist Michael Saarlos said, "I have had enough of all the tourists who ruin my trade. If they are here with a group, I can no longer see my own customers."

Another one of the tourist attractions ruined by bad tourist behavior is the famous train street snaking through Hanoi, Vietnam. Originally built in 1902 in a rough part of town, the train street provides the perfect photo opportunities. This is due to train tracks that run dangerously close to nearby shops.

In recent years, the train street gained popularity with social media influencers and tourists as the perfect place for a selfie opportunity. Too many tourists clog up the narrow alley, however, and it came to a breaking point in 2019. The influx of tourists sitting on the tracks forced a train to make an emergency stop. In response, the Hanoi Municipal Government forced local businesses running the length of the street to close. As Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu said, "Though the railway cafes attract tourists, they are, in fact, violating some regulations."

Another one of the tourist attractions ruined by bad tourist behavior is the Haiku Stairs in Hawaii. Comprised of nearly 4,000 steps going up and down a mountain trail in Kaneohe, Oahu, the Haiku Stairs are often called the "Stairway to Heaven." Built during World War II by the US Navy, the stairs were technically closed to the public in 1987.

However, various tourists and influencers keep accessing the dangerous off-limits landmark thanks to social media. In response, the Honolulu city council unanimously voted to remove the stairs in 2021. As explained by a press release put out by the city government, the action "prioritizes public safety, seeks to stop illegal trespassing on the stairs and nearby neighbors who have dealt with decades of disruptions and disturbances, addresses significant liability for the city, preserves the natural beauty and condition of the area and improves the quality of life for neighborhood residents in the area."

Another one of the tourist attractions ruined by bad tourist behavior is the city of Venice, Italy. A truly unique city, it sits in the water and uses it in place of roads or streets. Thanks to the characteristic gondola rides ferrying people from location to location, Venice became a hotspot for visiting tourists. The city is sinking, however, and is beset by increasing pollution, which locals blame on incoming tourists.

Indeed, even the UNESCO World Heritage Committee grew concerned over the increase in cruise liners and bad tourist behavior. In response, the city cracked down, setting up various signs in over 11 languages warning tourists as well as implementing a litany of new rules regarding said visitors. Some of these include fines for littering, engaging in horseplay, not wearing shirts in public, defacing trees or buildings, and leaving love locks in the city. Furthermore, the city government took steps to limit the number of hotel rooms available in Venice.(For other overhyped exotic locales, discover 10 famous places you shouldn't bother visiting.)

Another one of the tourist attractions ruined by bad tourist behavior is Hallstatt, Austria. Due to its placement in a scenic part of the Austrian Alps, the village attracts nearly 1 million visitors every year. With a population teetering around 800, however, the quaint village has become overrun with visiting tourists.

The influx of visitors keeps growing, forcing residents to cordon off their houses to prevent tourists from invading their peace. As one resident put it, "We have a lot of short-term visitors who swamp the place, and then leave after two or three hours. That isn't good for the people who live here." In response, the Hallstatt municipal government intends to curb over-tourism by limiting the number of tourist buses allowed into the small mountain hamlet.

As one of the most iconic and endearing landmarks in the world, Mt. Fuji in Japan remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This became particularly apparent with the post-Covid surge in visitors. Though the mountain is large, the fifth station to the summit "Gogome" bears the brunt of visitation with over 90% of all visitors ending up there. Just this week, however, Japan said that overtourism is ruining one of the country's most cherished locations.

Thanks to the endless influx of tourists, Mt. Fuji struggles with the increase in trash and soiled bathrooms. Furthermore, the new trend of "bullet-climbing" where hikers ascend and descend mountains in a single day has caused a drastic increase in the number of rescue efforts. Plus, these rescue efforts are almost entirely for non-Japanese visitors. In response, newly elected Governor Kotaro Nagasaki of Yamanashi Prefecture has proposed radical reforms and measures to combat over-tourism. These include a ban on passenger cars and buses, replacing the road with a light-rail train, and implementing a fee charged to visitors wishing to hike the iconic mountain.

Another one of the tourist attractions ruined by bad tourist behavior is Dubrovnik, Croatia. Before 2016, the seaside town was a tourist destination only for those in the know. After the release and unparalleled popularity of "Game of Thrones," which used Dubrovnik as a prominent backdrop, tourism exploded in the city causing a growing number of headaches for residents. In 2016, alone, the city saw an over 10% increase in tourism.

While it may be a boon for the local economy, the rampant tourism stretched the small city to its limit. After seven cruise ships entered its port in a single day, carrying a total of 9,300 passengers, city fathers were forced to issue pedestrian congestion warnings to its residents. Though the local government seeks to limit the number of cruise ships entering Dubrovnik, that plan remains to be seen. In the meantime, it installed a host of security cameras around the city to keep a careful eye on the ever-growing number of tourists.

As one of the oldest cities in Japan with remnants of the country's illustrious feudal past, Kyoto is like catnip to the eager tourist. It features small, winding streets, luxurious teahouses, and a sense of history hard to replicate including Geisha culture. As such, it attracts thousands upon thousands of visitors a year. Not all of them, however, are on their best behavior.

According to numerous reports, tourists often invade or trespass on local property, and harass the local geishas, going so far as to pull on their kimonos when they attempt to flee. In response, a local city resident group passed an ordinance charging tourists nearly $100 if they are caught taking pictures of private property or geishas without permission. While the city waits for cameras to be set up, locals remain the enforcers of these new measures. Furthermore, many of the historic teahouses in the historic district will be completely cut off from tourists.(For tourist attractions already ruined, discover iconic world attractions that no longer exist.)