How Tourists Are Ruining The World's Most Famous Landmarks
The world is full of fantastic landmarks. Humans have built some, while others have been forged by nature, withstanding the tests of time. However, these iconic landmarks will sometimes become so popular due to tourism that they can be damaged through purposeful actions or accidents. Let's examine how too much tourism is ruining some of the world's most famous landmarks.
Mount Everest, Nepal
There was a time when scaling Mount Everest was a truly remarkable feat, only achieved by a handful of expert climbers led by fearless sherpas to an astonishing height of 29,031.69 feet. I'm thinking of people like Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. But over the last several decades, the Nepalese mountain has become a tourist destination—a checkmark on a bucket list—with sometimes disastrous consequences.
Guillaume Baviere, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mount Everest (Cont'd)
Nowadays, tour companies offer climbs to the mountain peaks, complete with sherpa backing. But it's no longer about endurance, skill, patience, and knowledge of the mountain. It's become a commodity that costs between $33,000 and $200,000, with Western-led tour companies offering tours for around $100,000. The commodification of scaling the world's highest peak has led to shocking consequences.
Debasish biswas kolkata, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The World's Highest Trash Heap
Unfortunately, when climbers ascend and descend Everest, they are (for the most part) unable to practice "pack-in, pack-out" principles. While much of Everest climbers' trash is burned, reports indicate that each person (around 500 per day) that sets out to the summit generates 18 pounds of trash. This makes Mount Everest the world's highest trash heap.
Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock
Machu Picchu, Peru
After British explorer Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu in 1911, the Peruvian religious site has long been a pilgrimage for visitors to the country from all over the world. The long lost city isn't just abandoned, it's actually home to about 1,000 people, but receives about 5,000 visitors per day.
Erosion Of Stone Structures & Tourist Disrespect
In 2023, Peru restricted the number of daily visitors to Machu Picchu to just 2,500 per day, citing a concern that the ancient stone structures were being eroded by so many pairs of feet crossing over them daily. In addition, tourists have been caught defacing the ancient monuments with chalk, knife carvings, and more. There was also one report of tourists defecating at the site. The Peruvian government has implemented possible deportation and heavy fines for such actions.
Mx._Granger, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Teotihuacán, Mexico
One of the most mysterious ancient cities in South America and the largest archaeological site in the Western Hemisphere, Teotihuacán covered eight square miles in the 15th century and was one of the world's largest cities. In 2021, Teotihuacán was illegally turned into a construction site, with construction beginning on land nearby the historic site.
Ricardo David Sánchez, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ignoring Orders To Stop
The individuals responsible for the construction had ignored orders from the Mexican government to cease operations near the ancient city and thus were arrested in May 2021, when the Mexican government sent in dozens of police and national guard soldiers to stop the construction project near Teotihuacán.
Malkowo, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
What Could They Be Building?
What could they possibly be building near such an ancient monument to Mexican history, with no regard for the sanctity of the space or the law surrounding building near archaeological sites, you ask? A ferris wheel. That's right—a ferris wheel for tourists to enjoy a birds-eye view of Teotihuacán.
Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
If the acidification of the Great Barrier Reef wasn't enough of a concern, the impacts of scuba tourism on the 1,430 mile reef certainly is. The Great Barrier Reef receives nearly 2 million visitors annually.
Sarah_Ackerman, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Overcrowded Boats & An Overcrowded Reef
Because there are nearly 1,500 boats operating in the Great Barrier Reef area, with 820 tour operators, it's not hard to see how overcrowding could occur. While snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef may be on your bucket list, with the harm that all of those boat emissions do to the reef itself, never mind the disturbance to the wildlife of thousands of tourists dropping into the water to ogle at them, we recommend you skip the Reef entirely, or take a smaller tour.
Photnart, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Great Wall Of China
China's vast east-to-west wall that stretches for 13,171 miles from Shanhaiguan to Jiayuguan. Built over almost nine centuries, from 661 BCE to its completion in 1644, much of the Great Wall was completed during the epic Ming Dynasty, which saw three centuries of Chinese military dominance in the East.
Stolen Bricks & Vandalism
Although stolen bricks from the Great Wall, as well as defacing the stones themselves with graffiti, are relatively common, in 2023, the Chinese government detained two individuals for destroying part of the Great Wall with an excavator. A 38-year old man and 55-year-old woman were detained after breaking down part of the wall to create a shortcut for their construction work, happening nearby.
The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
In 1960, the Galápagos Islands saw just 1,000 tourists per year, as the isolated archipelago was almost unreachable for much of the world. Home to some of the world's rarest animals—giant tortoises, Galápagos penguins, and birds like Darwin's finches—the Islands now see a shocking 260,000 tourists annually.
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Listed As Endangered By UNESCO
In 2007, UNESCO was forced to list the Islands an endangered World Heritage Site, which should have afforded them specific protections, also enforced by the Government of Ecuador. Unfortunately, striking the balance between the much-needed tourism money that the Islands generate and the need to protect them from the effects of human interaction has proven more than difficult.
Xxchangwoo0120xx, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Stonehenge, England
There used to be a woodhenge and a strawhenge, then a big bad wolf came and blew them down. Or maybe it was the tourists. You used to be able to walk up to and around Stonehenge, one of England's most ancient set of stones on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Unfortunately, due to the damage caused by vandalism and overtourism, the UK government put up a roped barrier around Stonehenge.
Relieving Congestion On A Nearby Motorway By Tunneling Underneath Stonehenge
In 2021, the British Government sought permission from the High Court to construct a tunnel underneath near Stonehenge to help mitigate traffic (largely caused by huge tourism numbers) to the area. This was struck down by a judge, citing UNESCO's concerns that the tunnelling could damage the site and compromise possible archaeological finds in the area. In 2023, the Department of Transport approved the tunnel again, with UNESCO threatening to withdraw Stonehenge's protected status as a World Heritage Site.
The Ruins Of Petra, Jordan
Jordan is a country rich in history, but none more so than its most famous tourist destination: the Ruins of Petra. A 1,000-year-old city lost to the desert for ages was finally uncovered in 1812 by Swiss archaeologist and explorer Johann Burckhardt. Fun fact: Burckhardt went under the pseudonym Sheikh Ibrahim Ibn Abdallah.
Protecting What's Been Found
There have been several important discoveries made by archaeologists since 1812. Most recently, in 2024, skeletons and artifacts were uncovered beneath the ancient Treasury room in Petra. Unfortunately, Petra's extreme beauty—a pair of gorgeous rose-colored columns rising from the sand—has attracted more than 1 million visitors each year since 2019. Sadly, tourists have taken to riding donkeys up the steps.
A Prehistoric Cave In France
In 1940, a group of teenagers discovered a prehistoric cave in Lascaux, France—it was home to more than 600 prehistoric paintings that are generally considered to be between 17,000 and 22,000 years old. The story goes that the two teenagers (and their dog) were exploring a hole left by an uprooted tree when they stumbled into the cave system through a 50-foot shaft.
Jack Versloot, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Cave Opens To The Public
In 1948, following archaeological investigations, the cave was opened for public visitation. But not for long. It was discovered seven years later that carbon dioxide, humidity, and other contaminants were damaging the paintings. The cave attracted some 1,200 visitors daily, introducing lichen and other infestations to the walls, damaging the paintings even further. The cave was suddenly shut down and replicas were built in the Center For Prehistoric Art, a few kilometers from the original cave system, which remains closed to this day.
Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Valley Of The Kings, Egypt
The Valley Of The Kings is the site of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt between 1332 and 1323 BC. He was buried in a painted burial chamber with extraordinarily-detailed Egyptian hieroglyphs detailing his all-too-short reign.
King Tut's Tomb Being Destroyed By Human Breath
Similarly to the Lascaux Cave system, the breath from the throngs of tourists that had visited King Tut's tomb since its discovery in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter had led to the steady decay of the hieroglyphs. This caused the Egyptian Government to close the tomb for restoration and open an exact replica in 2014. The original tomb now features physical barriers and an upgraded air conditioning system.
Matt Howry, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The ancient temples of Angkor Wat that house some of the most important statues and writings of Hinduism and Buddhism have stood since 1150 BC, having been built by Suryavarman II, ruler of Khmer Empire. Sprawling over 162 hectares, the temple complex is one of Cambodia's most precious set of buildings and a connection to the ancient history of the country.
Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Viral Video Challenge Destroying Angkor Wat
Similar to the PC game Temple Run, released in 2011, tourists have been participating in a viral video challenge known as "Temple Run", wherein they film themselves (along with thousands of other tourists) scrambling up the stone steps of Angkor Wat at sunset. The heavy footfalls and placement of hands has led to irreparable damage of the intricate carvings of the Hindu-Buddhist site.
Nataliia Sokolovska, Shutterstock
The Acropolis, Greece
Athens is a special place where so much of the ancient world's history lies. It's the birthplace of democracy, for instance. The Acropolis is a magnificent structure that has stood watch over the city of Athens for millennia. Unfortunately, there has been extensive damage to the Acropolis' steps and the surrounding areas, as tens of thousands visit the site daily.
Stymphal, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Restoration Work Impacted The Greek Economy
Due to the nearly 23,000 daily visitors to the site, significant (and expensive) restoration work was needed on the steps of the Parthenon, Propylaea, and surrounding areas of the Acropolis. As such, the Greek government limited the number of tourist visitors to 20,000 per day.
David Garnand, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Sistine Chapel, The Vatican
The Sistine Chapel is, understandably, one of the most visited buildings in the Vatican, with many of the world's most incredible artists and their artwork paying homage to the religious nature of the site. But even for those irreligious folks out there, the artistry of the elaborate frescoes is hard not to admire. Unfortunately, the foot traffic (some 20,000 daily) has caused significant harm to the frescoes, which are painted directly onto the plaster used to construct the building.
Layers Of Grime
The body heat and dust generated by so many daily visitors has left many of the gorgeous frescoes of the Sistine Chapel with a layer of grime covering them. The Vatican has had to take decisive action in capping visitor entry and implementing a vacuuming system and a new air conditioning unit to handle the air temperature regulation of 20,000 people's body heat.
Clayton Tang, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Pyramids Of Giza, Egypt
Alongside Tutankhamun's tomb, the Pyramids of Giza are among Egypt's most popular tourist attractions, but as with most tourist attractions, they're prone to vendors trying to sell you everything under the sun. But in the case of the pyramids, it wasn't tourists who drew the ire of the Egyptian Government in February 2025, but rather, two Egyptian contractors in charge of the pyramid's lighting. They were using tools like chisels and hammers to chisel off "decades-old construction material", according to the Egyptian Antiquities Authority, but noticeably without the presence of an archaeological surveyor.
Ricardo Liberato, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1631 by Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was finished in 1653 and is considered one of the greatest Mughal buildings ever, as well as a symbol of India. While tourists do contribute to the damage done to the Taj, its environment is as much to blame as anything else.
Kristian Bertel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Environmental Damage Done To The Taj Mahal
Due to the site being in a significantly built-up area of India, the Taj Mahal suffers greatly from pollution wafting through its hallways and the corresponding acid rainfall damaged the sandstone structures beyond repair. Additionally, rotting sewage from Agra, India, that flows into the Yamuna River (which flows past the Taj) contains methane gas which is damaging the columns and causing cracking of the walls.
Buiobuione, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Easter Island, Chile
Easter Island is home to the Rapa Nui indigenous people and the famous Moai Statues, monolithic figures carved by the Rapa Nui between 1250 and 1500 BCE. There are more than 900 statues, each standing several feet tall, with the tallest being an extraordinary 33 feet high and weighing 82 tons.
Tourists Cause Irreparable Damage
There have been several incidents where tourists have caused irreparable damage to the Moai Statues. In 2008, a Finnish tourist chipped off a piece of one's ear, causing $17,000 worth of damage. He had to pay that and was banned from the island for three years. In another case, an unoccupied truck rolled into a Moai statue, causing more irreparable damage, and in 2022, an unknown number of statues were damaged when a wildfire (likely human-caused) ripped through the volcanic crater of Rano Raraku.
Uluru, Australia
This incredible monolith in the desert of the Northern Territory might be one of the most spectacular places to see a sunset in all of Australia, particularly if you try to climb the monolithic structure. Prior to 2019, this was commonplace, with tourists trampling all over this sacred Indigenous site that holds great spiritual significance to the Anangu Peoples.
Ek2030372672, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Goblin Valley State Park Hoodoos, Utah
The Hoodoos in Goblin Valley State Park are thought to date back to the Jurassic Period. This means that they're very old and destroying or defacing them in any way is a felony conviction. But, that didn't deter two Boy Scout leaders (seriously, they were Boy Scouts) from toppling a Jurassic-era Hoodoo in Goblin Valley State Park in Utah in 2014.
Brian W. Schaller, FAL, Wikimedia Commons
Film The Crime, Do The Time
We know that two former Boy Scout leaders did this because they filmed it and put it on YouTube. The video, understandably, went viral and the two men were charged with criminal mischief. They were each fined $2,000 and served no jail time. They were stripped of their Boy Scout positions almost immediately after the video went viral.
Luxor Temple, Egypt
The Luxor Temple is located on the eastern bank of the Nile River and is another of Egypt's most prized possessions. It's likely the place where Egyptian pharaohs were crowned. Various chapels and churches were built there by Egyptian leaders and, later, by the Romans. In 2013, the Luxor Temple was irreparably damaged by a Chinese teenager who carved his name into it.
Mohammed Moussa, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Egyptian Tourist Sentenced To Jail For Complaining About Vacation Online
In one of the most shocking cases of tourism-gone-wrong, in 2018, Lebanese tourist Mona el-Mazbouh was sentenced to eight years in prison for complaining about her vacation to Egypt in a video she posted online. In the videos, el-Mazbouh complained about poor restaurant service and alleged that her belongings were stolen.
She was arrested at the end of her trip to Egypt and charged with "defaming and insulting the Egyptian people", which is illegal under Egyptian law. She was released after three months in jail after significant international human rights pressure and was fined approximately $600 for her "transgression".
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