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Tourism brings money — but it can also destroy communities.
In this video, we explore 10 cities that locals say were ruined by tourism, from overcrowding and rising prices to cultural loss and environmental damage.

These are real opinions from residents who live with the consequences every day.

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• Hidden realities
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Transcript
00:00I need to say the least, you're a doggone beast!
00:05Come on, come back!
00:09Bugger!
00:11My sentiments exactly.
00:12Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be looking at those-
00:15tourist hotspots that are either avoided or derided by the local populace.
00:20I've given you my soul, leave me my name!
00:25Mystic, Connecticut.
00:27Tourism can often be a double-edged sword, an industry that drives
00:30commerce to a price that can sometimes feel overwhelming to those living in the area.
00:35Mystic, Connecticut isn't solely due to the boost it received thanks to the 1988 rom-com Mystic Pizza.
00:40There's also the fact that Mystic is just a lovely place, with plenty of activities that range from
00:45shopping and sightseeing to beach bumming.
00:47That said, the summer months bring an incredible amount of traffic to the-
00:50the area, which makes parking a huge pain in the butt.
00:53These jams can also extend outside of downtown Mystic.
00:55all the way to the amazing aquarium or museum of art.
00:58It's not impossible to get around.
01:00Just plan ahead.
01:01It's tradition, and you don't monkey with-
01:05It's tradition.
01:06Amen.
01:07NASA Bahamas.
01:08The issue of safety while traveling-
01:10is one that can fluctuate, depending on where you're headed.
01:13NASA Bahamas isn't generally unsafe.
01:15from the tourist side of things, if you just stay on the grounds of whatever luxury resort
01:19you happen to book.
01:20I'm not gonna-
01:20I'm not gonna guarantee your safety if you walk out your front door.
01:22I can't do that.
01:23So I can say something is amazing-
01:25It's amazingly safe.
01:26And something can still happen.
01:27So always exercise increased caution.
01:29However, those that-
01:30reside in NASA often have problems with what they view as a culture that caters solely to
01:35becoming visitors, and the increased crime that results.
01:37This can be as mild as hustlers trying to separate-
01:40hapless cruise ship tourists from their money at the dock.
01:42But in recent years, there's also been a spike in violence-
01:45outside of resort walls or cruise ship shadows.
01:48Tulum, Mexico.
01:49The tourist trade-
01:50didn't always revolve around acquiring the perfect Instagram shot to influence one's
01:54growing number of followers.
01:55yet it's this sort of culture that's partially contributed to the overtourism of Tulum, Mexico.
02:00This remarkable area contains a rich history of Mexico's ancient Mayan culture.
02:05desire to bring outsiders in has resulted in overzealous developers coming into the area.
02:10It's very expensive to Tulum's locals.
02:11Investors from the U.S. and Europe poured money into condo-
02:15hotels, retreats, and hotels convinced they were investing in the next big-
02:20tourist destination.
02:21There's an environmental side to all of this tourism as well, since Tulum's ecological
02:25infrastructure has suffered from the influx of people.
02:28Meanwhile, those all-important tourist-
02:30dollars are inequitably distributed to those that could actually benefit.
02:33Waste routinely leaks into ground-
02:35water, contaminating cenotes, and posing serious health risks.
02:40in Mykonos Islands, Greece.
02:41We're so beautiful, Lisa!
02:42We're the greatest, best-
02:43We're the greatest, best-
02:45It seems that there's unfair-
02:50Unfortunately, not much the proverbial little guy can do to fight how relentless tourism can negatively impact
02:55the locals' bottom line. The Santorini and Mykonos Islands in Greece are undeniably beautiful.
03:00Yet it's also this beauty that's attracted so many cruise ships and party-goers over the years.
03:05This over-tourism has resulted in local infrastructure being incapable of handling the strain.
03:10Creating an atmosphere that can often feel crowded, dirty, and tense for visitors and homeowners alike.
03:15The public profile of Santorini and Mykonos caused home and rental rates in the area to drag.
03:20It's a drastically spike, which is never a good sign for those that live here 24-365.
03:25Santorini is a beautiful island, but if you want to see the main sights, either go in the off-season
03:30will be prepared for the crowds.
03:32Bali, Indonesia
03:34It can be difficult
03:35for those that don't live in an area dependent on tourism to understand how challenging the balance
03:40it is.
03:40The area consistently struggles with the behavior of visiting
03:45tourists with regards to its ecosystem and infrastructure.
03:48Yet Bali also can't afford to turn down
03:50the revenue from those same tourists.
03:51Bali's local government has issued demolition orders for more than-
03:5540 buildings saying they were constructed illegally.
03:58They include villas, restaurants and
04:00bars along the beachfront.
04:01There's also a loss of identity some native Indonesians feel as
04:05Bali is continually gentrified for the sake of the over 6 million tourists that visit each
04:10year.
04:11Indonesian governmental officials have tried to combat these negative impacts via certain
04:15tactics.
04:15There are no taxes and legislation, but these have proven difficult to enforce during the
04:18peak season.
04:19Amsterdam
04:20Netherlands
04:21To quote Dr. Ian Malcolm, we're talking about the increasingly popular
04:25model of short-term rentals.
04:26Yeah.
04:27Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't
04:30stop.
04:30But what about the impact of apartments that are being taken away from locals?
04:35In favor of the revenue that comes from renting them out.
04:37This is just one of the issues facing Amsterdam.
04:40A popular tourist destination that has faced pushback from those that call it home.
04:44What do you do when that home is
04:45noisy, crowded, and just not fun to be around?
04:47How do you deal with the relentless party atmosphere that
04:50puts all of the local color and tradition at risk?
04:52These are just some of the questions Amsterdam residents ask.
04:55their officials when complaining about visitor behavior in their city.
04:58This is the best thing that could have happened.
05:00to us.
05:01We're in Amsterdam.
05:02This is the drug and sex capital of Europe.
05:04Salem
05:05It's true that Salem's tourism problems are primarily relegated to the month of October.
05:10The city has an incredible history that brings its fair share of visitors year-round.
05:15No mistake, spooky season can be a trying time for Salem locals.
05:19Every street, every
05:20free storefront.
05:21Salem, 90% of its income is October.
05:23Every costume has that.
05:25Halloween energy.
05:26People come from all over to experience.
05:28The holiday season is very...
05:30much tourist driven.
05:31With parking spots basically changing into valuable currency overnight.
05:35Traffic jams aren't the only negative impact of tourism in Salem, however.
05:39Many who live there have...
05:40also complained that visitors are often careless with how they behave and rude when they interact
05:45on the crowd.
05:45city streets.
05:46It's make or break for a lot of places in town for their...
05:50all year.
05:51The mayor says it's the city's commitment to welcoming visitors that's at the soul of
05:55what makes Salem stand out.
05:57Barcelona, Spain.
05:58The news made headlines back in 2020.
06:00A story of frustrated locals attempting to make themselves hurt against what they viewed
06:05as an invasion.
06:05the cities of species.
06:06Tourists.
06:07Thousands of protesters hit the streets in Barcelona to express...
06:10anger at mass tourism and its impacts on the city.
06:13Some protesters even sprayed...
06:15tourists with water guns as part of the demonstration.
06:18Barcelona natives squirted visitors with...
06:20water guns in an act of defiance against a problem they believe needs to be addressed.
06:25Specifically...
06:25how a city so devoted to tourism dollars has unfairly priced out its local populace...
06:30in favor of more short-term rentals and higher rents.
06:32The mayor of Barcelona recently said...
06:35that by 2028 he would end apartment rentals for tourists by stopping short-term rentals...
06:40licenses for more than 10,000 apartments...
06:42that would make these homes available for locals to...
06:45live in.
06:46Barcelona is another city that's actively made steps to battle against reckless and root
06:50tourist behavior.
06:51It's implemented taxes while also working to shutter bootleg Airbnbs that offer...
06:55often spring up overnight to take advantage of the situation.
06:58I mean I'll show you around the city and...
07:00we'll live well, we'll drink good wine, we'll make love.
07:05Yeah, who exactly is going to make love?
07:08Hopefully the three of us.
07:10Dubrovnik, Croatia.
07:11This city has put their money where their mouth is with regards to just saying...
07:15no to tourist dollars.
07:16This picturesque town gained popularity as a filming location for the...
07:20HBO series, Game of Thrones.
07:21Brandon!
07:22I saw the king!
07:25He's got hundreds of people!
07:27How many times have I told you no climbing?
07:30It made Dubrovnik explode almost overnight as a tourist hotspot.
07:34Yet today...
07:35Mayor Mato Frankovic has actively turned away excessive cruise ship dockings and visits.
07:40Dubrovnik...
07:40Dubrovnik has also banned wheeled suitcases in an effort to combat noise pollution.
07:44And it continues...
07:45the fight to protect local culture and tradition in the face of those modern dangers.
07:49Short-term rentals...
07:50food crowds and traffic.
07:51If they're planning on doing a day trip to the Old Town, visitors will have to...
07:55take a ticket in advance.
07:56And they'll only get up to four hours to explore the area.
08:00Tourists aren't so sure about these new restrictions.
08:03Before we continue, be sure to subscribe...
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08:19Venice, Italy
08:20And we'll see you next time.
08:21We'll see you next time.
08:22Bye.
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