By and large, popular travel destinations like being popular travel destinations. It means a bit of fame and a whole lot of money from visiting tourists. There are, however, some travel destinations around the world that are beginning to suffer from tourist fatigue. For this reason, they’ve begun to take steps that will limit the number of people who can visit them each and every year.
There are a number of different reasons for this. In some cases, it’s because the natural environment needs to be protected. In other cases, it’s because local residents are getting sick of increased costs of living. Whatever the case may be, you may want to start planning you trip to these next 20 travel destinations in the near future. There’s no telling if these place will taken even more steps than they have already to curb the number of tourists visiting.
What are these 20 awesome vacation destinations, you ask? Well, there’s only one way to find out. Read on, and see if one of the places you’ve longed to visit has made the list.
1. Venice
With tourists driving up living expenses and rent, many locals are demanding that the local government ban cruise ships entirely.
2. Zion National Park
This treasure in Utah has been subject to land erosion in recent years and is therefore looking to limit the number of visitors it receives each year.
3. Bhutan
To limit tourism, the government in Bhutan assesses fees on visitors and requires that they have a visa for entry.
4. Iceland
As it sees more and more tourists every year, those who live in Iceland are considering taking steps to tax visitors.
5. Barcelona
This beautiful Spanish city is sick of being overcrowded, which is why the city government is considering taxing day-trippers with a tourist tax.
6. Cinque Terre
Starting in 2016, a strict quota of 1.5 million tourists per year was put into enforcement here.
7. Santorini
This beautiful Greek Isle is a popular cruise port. But the government there has taken steps to limit the number of people who can disembark there on a daily basis. Currently, the limit is 8,000.
8. The Seychelles
As early as 2015, measures were beginning to be taken in order to limit the increasing number of tourists visiting this site every year.
9. Koh Tachai
This Thai island was closed in October of 2016 due to the number of tourists who were disturbing the land.
10. Koh Khai Nui
Elsewhere in Thailand, there are other islands taking steps to limit their number of visitors like this one, and also Koh Khai Nai and Koh Khai Nok.
11. The Forbidden City
Given the name, this one should come as no surprise. Starting in 2008, the Forbidden City began capping the number of daily visitors at 80,000.
12. Norway
The remote regions of Norway are seeing an increasing number of tourist-related accidents, which is why the government is limiting access to these regions.
13. Lord Howe Island
The UNESCO World Heritage site has a strict limit of only 400 visitors at a time in order to protect the natural environment.
14. Galapagos Islands
Over the years, more and more of these island have become protected, with 97% currently designated as such.
15. Mount Everest
Every thrill seeker alive wants to summit Mount Everest, but authorities there have taken steps to ban novice climbers from attempting the feat.
16. Reykjavik
Iceland has been seeing an increasing number of tourists, and now the government is stepping in by regulating AirBNB rentals.
17. Magao Grottoes
This Chinese treasure is also limiting the number of visitors that it receives each day. Currently, only 6,000 people per day can visit.
18. Antarctica
With pristine natural environments like this one in danger across the globe, you’d better believe that Antarctica is trying to limit the number of people who set foot on it each year.
19. Skellig Michael
You might have caught this Irish island in the final moments of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Currently only 160 people per day can visit.
20. Machu Picchu
Many travelers dream of visiting this world landmark. In 2019, one will need to have a guide in order to visit the site.
