“Rapid, unchecked development driven by overtourism is encroaching on Bali’s natural habitats, eroding its environmental and cultural heritage, and causing a ‘plastic apocalypse,’” the New York-based travel site stated.
Bali has experienced a surge in tourism post-Covid.
Last year, the island welcomed 15.5 million visitors, nearly matching its 2019 pre-Covid numbers. During the first seven months of this year, Bali recorded 3.89 million arrivals, up from 2.9 million in the same period last year.
In response to overtourism, Indonesian authorities have implemented measures such as banning the construction of new hotels and villas on the island.
Bali was also featured on the magazine’s No List in 2020.
Koh Samui, a 95-square-mile island in the Gulf of Thailand, has long been popular for its ultra-luxury resorts and villas. The island welcomed 3.4 million tourists last year, reaching pre-pandemic levels, with an expected 10-20% increase in 2024.
“Koh Samui has long struggled with overtourism, but concerns are growing about the impact of the new season of The White Lotus premiering in 2025,” the magazine noted.
Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan also appeared on this year’s No List.
Kyoto continues to grapple with overtourism despite initiatives such as installing surveillance cameras, implementing a luggage delivery system, and erecting signs to curb harassment.
Other destinations on the No List include Mount Everest, Agrigento in Italy, the British Virgin Islands, Kerala in India, Oaxaca in Mexico, and Scotland’s North Coast 500.
The magazine emphasized that while these destinations are celebrated for their beauty and cultural significance, the pressures of tourism are becoming unsustainable for the land and local communities.
The No List aims to spotlight these challenges and encourage measures to address them.
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