Do I really need to show you pictures of Dubrovnik when there's a cruise ship in town, or of the Trevi Fountain in Rome on a hot day, to prove travel has never been as crowded as it is this summer?
Probably not. A recent survey by Global Rescue found that 73 percent of travelers are worried about overtourism, and more than half are actively avoiding popular destinations like France, Spain, Italy, and Thailand.
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“Overtourism weakens destinations by straining infrastructure and depleting resources,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. “It leaves them ill-equipped to handle crises, whether it’s a natural disaster or a surge in crime.”
But are overcrowded destinations dangerous? And what places should you avoid – or not avoid?














