These were the destinations that suffered the most from overtourism in 2023

02-01-24

After several years of pandemic-driven recession, the travel industry is not only back, but booming. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the industry is expected to earn $9.5 trillion by 2023, 95% more than before the pandemic.

Nowhere is this boom more evident than in the world's most popular tourist hotspots, many of which have seen record numbers of visitors in the past year.

These increases may be beneficial to local economies and hospitality businesses, but they also come with notable downsides: increased noise, pollution, traffic and pressure on public resources; a lower quality of life for locals; and a diminished visitor experience, to name just a few.