The downside of excessive tourism is being laid bare, with a travel company revealing how a surge in travel is pushing some destinations to the edge.
Go2Africa said global travel almost recovered to the levels prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2024 as 1.4 billion people spent time overseas.
“But as millions of tourists return to globetrotting, the surge in tourism is starting to strain some destinations,” the Cape Town and Nairobi–based company wrote in this blog.
“Some places, like iconic European cities, have become so crowded that tourists actually outnumber the people who live there.
“Others manage to strike a healthy balance between visitors and locals, offering a more genuine and relaxed experience.
“As a result, more travellers are seeking unique, off-the-beaten-path destinations away from the usual tourist crowds.”
Go2Africa said Vatican City was the world’s most overwhelmed destination with 7,709 visitors per resident, with Venice a distant second (392), followed by Andorra (117) and San Marino (59).
France remains the most visited country in the world, welcoming more than 100 million international tourists in 2024.
West Virginia was the most overcrowded American state as it welcomed 75 million visitors in 2024 (42 per resident) but New York remained the country’s most visited state overall.
The company also listed the world's most visited destinations and paired them with nearby or similar locations with fewer tourists:
- Vatican City > Siena, Italy
- Andorra > Slovenian Alps
- Antigua and Barbuda > Seychelles
- Hong Kong > South Africa
- Monaco > Rovinj, Croatia
- Malta > Mauritius
- Croatia > Montenegro
