Overtourism is a real problem for many popular vacationer destinations. So, as with the famous archaeological site Pompeii, measures have been taken to limit the number of tourists. Here’s what you need to know if you’re heading to one of these places soon…
Italy is tightening the screws: while the archaeological site of Pompeii saw a record number of tourists this summer, measures are now being taken to avoid overtourism. Since November 15, the city buried in 79 AD, after the eruption of Vesuvius, will only be able to accommodate 20,000 visitors per day while there could sometimes be more than 35,000 visitors on Sundays. Like this historic site, other places well known to tourists have limited their number of visitors. If you plan to go there soon, it is better to plan your visit well in advance…
Previously, to admire the Acropolis of Athens, Greece, you only needed to have a ticket valid for a whole day and you could go there at any time to start the visit. But, from now on, you have to reserve a specific time slot and not miss it in order to be able to visit the archaeological site, which has also limited its number of visitors to 20,000 per day.
If you plan to go to Thailand instead, you should not miss the sumptuous and famous beach of Maya Bay, on the island of Koh Phi Phi Le, straight out of a postcard! However, the place is overrun with tourists in high season and the consequences on the environment are rather disastrous. Today, the number of visitors is therefore limited to 4,125 per day over eleven slots which extend from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Finally, if you venture to Peru, in Latin America, you will certainly want to climb the famous Machu Picchu, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. But access to the Inca Citadel and other sites is regulated. Over the years and overtourism, stone structures have been significantly deteriorated and part of the site had to temporarily close to maintain it. To access Machu Picchu, it was therefore necessary to establish a capacity, which amounts to around 6,000 people per day, spread over two time slots: from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
You are free to plan a stay in a less touristy country instead if you want to be able to visit without being limited by a gauge or schedules. In recent months, two destinations have been rising in the hearts of tourists: Albania and Moldova.
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