How not to be disappointed in the rest: where you should not come twice
Interesting changes have been observed in tourism in recent years. We will not hide the fact that globally the number of tourists visiting different countries is only growing from year to year. As a result, many popular tourist places in the past year became so “popular” that the queues to the museums broke all records. It is not surprising that these same cities become tiresome for tourists, and for locals practically unbearable.
What do responsible tourists around the world do? Looking for new interesting directions. Plan your vacation in advance and choose new routes. What can advise experienced Ukrainian tourists? Do not dwell on the world-famous must-see directions, if you have already seen them. And choose a good time to visit this or that place. And, of course, read the article to the end! We will tell where the second time is no longer fashionable to go to rest. And which places is better to choose instead.
Barcelona, Spain
The Catalan capital in 2016 was visited by 34 million tourists from around the world. This is 25% more than in 2012. The mass flow of tourists caused discontent among local residents, and “anti-tourist” graffiti began to appear on the walls. And in August 2017, local residents even came out to protest against the tourist influx in Malaya Barcelona (the quarter of the Old Town).
Even giants like Airbnb came under protest from local residents. And as a result, the authorities were forced to introduce some tourist restrictions (for example, in the center of the city it was forbidden to build hotels, a real estate tax was leased, which is leased for a long term).
If you are still going to visit Barcelona again …
Do not forget that Barcelona is not only the pedestrian rambla in the center. There are still a lot of cool places! In general, you can rent a bike and ride around.
Alternatives
Why not visit Valencia, whose cuisine and culture are not inferior to Barcelona?
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Do you know that UNESCO is threatening to deprive Dubrovnik of the status of a cultural monument of world importance? And all because of the oversaturation of tourists. And the city authorities have decided to reduce the flow of tourists.
The mayor plans to limit the number of cruise ships arriving at the ancient port. About 800,000 people landed from cruise liners in 2016, although they did not stay on the shore longer than 5 hours.
If you really need to go to Dubrovnik …
Choose a trip at the beginning of the season, when there is still no such hype.
Alternatives
Visit the city of Cavtat, which is southeast of Dubrovnik. There is a picturesque old town and excellent beaches, where you do not need to take place in the evening.
Venice, Italy
In 2017, residents of Venice took to the streets to protest at the incessant flow of tourists to the city. For example, there are so many tourists on the legendary Rialto Bridge that they often just injure themselves with selfie sticks.
Venice is visited annually by 30 million tourists. In this regard, the local population is constantly decreasing. Now there are only 55 thousand local residents in the city. And the authorities are taking serious measures to curb the tourist flow to Venice (for example, to prohibit cruise liners from sailing along the Giudecca canal).
If you don’t have the strength, you want to visit Venice again …
Do not take a selfie stick with you and explore the backyard of the city. And also do not eat in cafes and restaurants near the lively tourist places.
Alternatives
The city of Annecy in the south-east of France will surprise you with quaint canals, cobbled streets and incredible historic architecture.
Santorini, Greece
Yes, Santorini has few competitors. Because there are only a few places in the world where the sunsets are just as amazing. But everyone knows about it! Therefore, almost 2 million people visited Santorini in 2017. 850,000 of them sailed on cruise ships and stayed on the island for up to a day. The mayor of the island takes all measures to control the flow of tourists to the island. But due to the mad popularity of Santorini, it can lose its charm.
If you are already tempted by an early booking tour in Santorini …
Take only hotels with breakfast, and for lunch and dinner, go to local restaurants away from the beaches. And do not settle for dubious walks on donkeys!
Alternatives
Visit the island of Naxos, which is located within the same group of islands as Santorini. There are beautiful and spacious beaches surrounded by picturesque hills. Or go to the island of Patmos, in the south-east of the Aegean Sea. It is also a worthy alternative to Santorini.
Agra, India
In Agra, go see, first of all, the Taj Mahal. But let’s be frank – in the cities of India you will not find a quiet, secluded place at all. And the Taj Mahal is visited by 8 million people a year. Of these, half are foreign tourists. So near the entrance to the mausoleum there is always confusion and hustle.
