Tourism has become a significant component of the economies of many countries around the world, making a lot of money and attracting people to somewhat unusual locations.
However, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies, and an unfortunate aspect of human behavior that often emerges is a lack of restraint—some people simply can’t help themselves from touching things, removing them, damaging important things, and trespassing on property. Unfortunately, this often comes at the expense of the attractions themselves, some of which are very old or incredibly important parts of the natural world.
Here are some awful examples of unruly tourists who have destroyed beautiful spots all around the world.
1. Maya Beach, Thailand
Featured in The Beach, starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Maya Beach in Thailand soon became incredibly popular due to its sheer natural beauty, attracting millions of tourists. So much so that there came a point where the beach was so crowded you could barely walk.
This led to far too much undue stress on the natural environment and excessive pollution, leading to the beach becoming closed to visitors.
2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
A traditional Cambodian temple, Angkor Wat has attracted large numbers of tourists from all over the world. However, the crowds have proven to be unsustainable, leading to water shortages – this has resulted into locals tapping into groundwater supplies which has lowered the water table. Consequently, the temple itself has been damaged and is at further risk of collapse.
3. The Great Wall of China, China
Receiving millions of tourists every year, the Great Wall of China continues to be damaged by visitors – by means of littering, graffiti, and overuse. As a result, continued tourism is a major concern for the ongoing conservation of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Machu Picchu, Peru
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Pichu is an ancient Incan citadel set in the Andes Mountains in Peru. But plenty of tourists visit the site constantly, leading to dramatic wear and tear due to having too many people there at once. As a result, authorities are trying to limit tourist activity.
5. Cozumel, Mexico
A picturesque island on the Yucatan coast of Mexico, Cozumel is regularly visited by tourist cruise ships. The result, however, is that the vessels and tourists damage the surrounding coral reefs, and the more boat traffic there is, the worse the damage.
6. Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
Located near New Guinea, the Raja Ampat Archipelago forms part of what’s known as the Coral Triangle, home to some of the richest biodiversity in the world. However, in 2017, a tourist cruise ship ran aground in the reef, causing irreparable damage to the natural environment.
7. The Colosseum, Italy
One of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, the Colosseum suffers from reckless visitors who disrespect it by littering, taking home bits of it, and inscribing their names in the stone.
8. Bhutan
A landlocked country on the edge of the Himalayas, Bhutan was closed to visitors until the ‘70s. After it was opened, many people flocked there to visit the monasteries fortresses, and beautiful landscapes, leading to immediate pollution and damage. Now, there are restrictions on the number of visitors allowed to visit.
9. Stonehenge, England
Mystery surrounds the stone structure of Stonehenge, located about a few hours from Surrey, England. Back when tourists still had direct access, many people chipped away pieces of the stone to take home. Today, it’s completely roped off, and visitors cannot get within quite some distance of it.
10. Boracay, Philippines
Due to its gorgeous sandy beaches and blue waters, the island of Boracay in the Philippines became a popular tourist attraction. However, severe overcrowding led to significant pollution and damage that was unsustainable. Thus, commercial activity was banned, and the beach was closed to tourists for the sake of conservation.
11. Lascaux Cave Paintings, France
Only open to the public for 20 years, the Lascaux Cave Paintings simple had far too many visitors for the cave’s natural environment to handle. Operators allowed too many people in, leading to far too much carbon dioxide, resulting in severe damage. The cave is now permanently closed to the public.
12. The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Although it’s strictly prohibited for obvious reasons, many tourists have attempted to climb the Great Pyramids of Giza, resulting in serious damage. There have also been instances of people damaging and vandalizing the pyramids.
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