“You’ll see nothing like what you expect: instead of a paradise island, you’ll find a plastic apocalypse, and instead of authentic experiences, you’ll encounter locals who don’t want you there,” warns the Fodor’s travel guide in its ranking of overhyped destinations that tourists should avoid in 2025. “The reality is, they are just terrible,” the authors claim. Interestingly, many of these destinations are popular among tourists from our region. So, what are these places?
Scotland: North Coast 500
This famous road trip route is not as charming as it’s often portrayed. The main issue is its overwhelming popularity. Most travelers camp in tents or motorhomes, and the lack of appropriate facilities, such as campsites, toilets, and waste disposal points, creates problems along the route. Wild camping on beaches, roadside spots, and even private land is common, with locals reporting litter, campfire remnants, disposable grills, and even human waste.
Bali: The Plastic Apocalypse
On Bali, tourists won’t find a tropical paradise but rather mountains of plastic waste. “Rapid, uncontrolled development driven by overtourism is encroaching on Bali’s natural habitats, destroying its ecological and cultural heritage, and creating a true plastic apocalypse,” warns the guide.
Popular European Destinations
Barcelona, Mallorca, Venice, the Canary Islands, and Lisbon also made the list due to excessive tourism. “Tourists arrive in such numbers that they clog neighborhoods, alter the social structure, raise the cost of living, strain infrastructure and natural resources, and homogenize cultures,” explain the authors.
Koh Samui, Thailand
The island of Koh Samui has long suffered from overtourism. The guide notes that the situation could worsen following the release of the new season of The White Lotus in 2025. Currently, around 200,000 tons of waste are hidden out of sight from tourist areas and luxury villas, with rapid, unregulated construction worsening the problem.
Mount Everest
Even the world’s highest mountain is suffering from overtourism, which negatively impacts local communities, damages the environment, and diminishes the experience for travelers.
British Virgin Islands
Cruise tourism is the main issue here, preventing much of the tourist spending from reaching the local economy and further harming communities.
Agrigento, Sicily
This city, which is preparing to become Italy’s cultural capital, is grappling with a serious water crisis. Tourism could exacerbate the issue, causing harm to its cultural heritage and punishing its permanent residents.
Kerala, India
Tourism here has aggravated the effects of natural disasters. In some areas, unregulated development has obstructed natural water drainage, increasing the risk of landslides and harming ecosystems.
Oaxaca City, Mexico
Local residents complain that their culture and traditions are being commercialized due to mass tourism, resulting in greater wealth inequality and environmental degradation.
Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan
In Japan, the term “tourism pollution” has even been coined. Key issues include rising domestic travel costs due to high demand for business hotels, as well as overcrowding in must-see spots like Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari, making it impossible to explore comfortably.
These destinations are a reminder that mass tourism can have severe consequences for travelers, local communities, and the environment alike.