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Wednesday, January 15, 2020

22 destinations that were ruined by tourists over the past decade

[Machu Picchu crowds]Cris Bouroncle / AFP via Getty Images * The 2010s saw more people traveling than ever before, according to The Guardian's report on recent figures from the World Tourism Organization. * But millions upon millions of people going on adventures has put pressure on numerous destinations. * Some, like Venice, have long been affected by overtourism, but others like Dubrovnik, Croatia, are facing new challenges caused by the popularity of TV shows like "Game of Thrones."  * Already in 2020 there are issues, too — several tourists were arrested for damaging a sacred temple at Machu Picchu. * Here are 22 places around the world we're loving to death. * VISIT INSIDER'S HOMEPAGE FOR MORE STORIES. ICELAND HAS HAD A MOMENT — BUT THE ATTENTION BROUGHT BY THE LIKES OF "GAME OF THRONES," "STAR WARS," AND JUSTIN BIEBER HAS HAD CONSEQUENCES. Roberto La Rosa/Shutterstock It's hard to think of somewhere that's been a more "it" destination in the past decade than Iceland. There are concerns, however, about the environmental impact of the increase in tourism, impact on quality of life for locals, and whether the tourism boom is a bubble that could burst. This could lead to serious economic challenges in a country with just 360,000 people — issues that local outlets like the English-language Reykjavik Grapevine have covered extensively. To boot, attractions like the Blue Lagoon have been deemed overrated by some. GREEK ISLANDS LIKE SANTORINI AND MYKONOS ARE SEEMINGLY MADE FOR INSTAGRAM — BUT NOT FOR THE CROWDS. Getty/SHansche If it wasn't posted to Instagram, did someone visit a place at all? One could be forgiven for thinking that when it comes to Greek islands. Some locals even say that to have an authentic Greek experience you should avoid Santorini and Mykonos, or any Greek island with an airport. IBIZA IS AS LEGENDARY AS EVER — THAT INCLUDES THE HORDES OF PARTIERS. David Ramos/Stringer Sun. Sand. Surf. Clubs. And crowds. Lots of crowds. What else is new in Ibiza? These days, crowds are so intense, people are recommending going to parts of the Spanish island that don't have bars and nightclubs. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * 25 photos that show how different traveling was 100 years ago * 9 details you might have missed in the trailer for the new James Bond movie 'No Time to Die' * PewDiePie showed off his new merch while wearing a balaclava on Instagram to joke about his house getting robbed


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