The Most & Least "Over-Touristed" Destinations Around The World

The rise of social media has made it easier than ever to scroll through post after post of stunning, must-visit tourist destinations around the world. However, at what point does a bucket-list destination no longer become enviable due to teeming masses of tourists cluttering up the place?

There are many places around the world that echo the same message: tourists, stay away. From Maui residents imploring tourists for space while their land heals, to hotspots all over Europe imposing taxes and fines to protect their spaces, one thing is true: mass tourism is beginning to destroy many of the most loved destinations.

However, which bucket-list locations around the world are the most overrun by tourists?

Our team at MoneyTransfers.com compared the most visited cities and countries in the world with the resident population in each to find out where in the world residents are most outnumbered by tourists - and some of the numbers might shock you!

Jonathan Merry, resident travel expert at MoneyTransfers.com, comments:

“The recent devastating fires in Maui highlighted the feelings many natives to popular destinations have: a desire for tourists to stay away, especially when the land itself is at risk.

The index below highlights just how overcrowded many cities around the world are by international visitors. Although not necessarily an unwelcome thing in many ways, it’s undeniable that this level of popularity and tourists wildly outnumbering locals can result in overcrowding and a cascade of negative effects.”

Most “Over-Touristed” Cities in the World

1. Phuket, Thailand

Phuket, Thailand, is officially the most overloaded city in the world, with a staggering 118.5 tourists to every 1 inhabitant. This article highlights just how crowded the Old Town can get in peak season!

In fact, Thailand takes the top three spots in this ranking - signalling the country as a literal hotbed for tourists from all over the world! Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, rests on the shores of the Andaman Sea in the southern region of the country. It’s worth noting that millions of tourists fly into Phuket city to go on to travel by bus or ferry to one of Thailand’s many beautiful beaches and nearby islands so while it’s over-touristed, not many tourists are staying in the city itself for long.

Thailand is a popular destination not only because of it's natural beauty and well-developed tourism, but also because it offers excellent value for money. Anyone looking to convert and send money in Thailand will likely find an extremely favourable exchange rate, meaning your money goes much further here than in other popular destinations.

2. Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya, located along the Gulf of Thailand, is a bustling coastal city known for its vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches. The city takes the second spot in this ranking, with 98.7 tourists to every one inhabitant.

While it attracts tourists from around the world, it's mostly recognized for its lively entertainment scene and water sports activities.

3. Krabi, Thailand

In third place, and the third consecutive Thai city to make this list, is Krabi, a province in southern Thailand. The popular city boasts picturesque landscapes, including limestone cliffs, clear waters, and lush jungles - and is so popular, that there are a huge 72.2 tourists per inhabitant.

Krabi is considered a haven for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts, offering activities like rock climbing, island hopping, and exploring the stunning Railay Beach. Again, like Phuket, many tourists fly into Krabi and then go on to explore other areas of Thailand that can only be reached by bus or ferry.

4. Muğla, Turkey

Muğla, a province in southwestern Turkey, has an estimated 40 tourists per 1 inhabitant. The city is known for its scenic beauty and historical sites, and encompasses popular tourist destinations such as Bodrum, Marmaris, and Fethiye, where visitors can enjoy a rich blend of ancient history and Mediterranean charm.

5. Hurghada, Egypt

Hurghada, situated along the Red Sea coast of Egypt, is a renowned resort town known for its world-class diving and snorkelling opportunities. The overloaded city is estimated to have 28.6 tourists visiting to every 1 inhabitant!

With its vibrant marine life and pristine beaches, it's a paradise for underwater enthusiasts and beach lovers alike, but those looking for a hidden travel gem may find themselves disappointed in the levels of tourist activity.

6. Macau, China

Macau, often referred to as the "Las Vegas of Asia," is a special administrative region of China known for its bustling casinos, vibrant nightlife, and interesting Portuguese colonial architecture. The city, receiving an estimated 18.9 million international arrivals per year, has an estimated 27 tourists per 1 inhabitant.

Macau is also the most densely populated place on the planet - so those of you with claustrophobia around crowds may find yourselves overwhelmed visiting this city.

7. Heraklion, Greece

Heraklion, the capital of Crete, Greece, is a city steeped in history and culture. The beautiful city has an estimated 22 tourists for every 1 inhabitant although again, Heraklion is used as a starting point for onward journeys to many other areas within Crete.

8. Venice, Italy

Venice, the Italian city of canals and historic charm, has grappled with over-tourism issues due to its immense popularity. In response, the city implemented measures such as restricting cruise ship access and requiring reservations for day-trippers.

Despite this, the historic city still remains in the top 10 most over-visited cities, with 21 tourists for every 1 inhabitant.

9. Rhodes, Greece

Rhodes is a Greek island known for its captivating mix of ancient ruins and idyllic beach resorts. With a high tourist-to-inhabitant ratio, at 20 tourists for every 1 inhabitant, Rhodes isn’t necessarily a destination for a quiet getaway.

With that said, Rhodes town is just one area of a large and beautiful island, with many more secluded areas for tourists to move on to.

10. Miami, United States

Miami is famous for its lively nightlife, cultural diversity, and beautiful beaches, and rounds up the top 10 in this list of most over-touristed cities in the world.

It's a destination that caters to various interests, from art enthusiasts to sun-seekers, making it a popular choice for both domestic and international travellers, with an estimated 8.1 million international arrivals a year.

Most Over-Touristed Countries in the World

Despite cities in Thailand taking up the top three spots for most over touristed cities in the world, the country is actually relatively low in the ranking of countries most visited.

Instead, Austria takes the top spot in this regard, with an average of 3.6 international visitors per inhabitant (with 31.9 million annual visitors and a population of 8.9 million). Next up are Hong Kong, which has an estimated 3.8 tourists per inhabitant, and Greece, with an estimated 3 tourists per inhabitant.

Least Over-Touristed Cities

At the other end of the scale, the following cities still rank within the top 100 cities for international arrivals per year, but have a population size to match - meaning those living within the country aren’t out-numbered and are therefore less likely to become frustrated with tourists!

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

3. Beijing, China

4. Kolkata, India

5. Lima, Peru

6. Shanghai, China

7. Cairo, Egypt

8. Tokyo, Japan

9. Jakarta, Indonesia

10. Delhi, India

Methodology

We sourced the data on international arrivals from a Euromonitor International study and all population data and figures for most visited countries from World Population Review. These data sets were then used to calculate the estimated number of tourists per inhabitant for each city and country.