Overtourism has become a significant concern for several countries and now, a new report has ranked the most overcrowded travel destinations worldwide. Go2Africa, a safari company, recently published the results of a survey on the world’s most visited countries and the most crowded tourist destinations.
According to the research, Vatican City tops the list of the most overcrowded destination, with a staggering 7,709 tourists to every resident. The city-state is just 0.44 square km in size and is a place of pilgrimage and cultural significance for many people around the world. Its tiny population of 882 consists mainly of clergy, diplomats and officials, making it unlike any typical country.
Coming in second place is Andorra, which welcomed 9.6 million visitors in 2024, compared to just 81,938 locals. This gives the microstate a ratio of 117 tourists per resident. Nestled between France and Spain, Andorra is best known for its luxury ski resorts and status as a tax haven, all of which contribute to its outsized appeal.
Many of the most overcrowded destinations are also small island nations, particularly popular among cruise travellers. These places often experience massive, short-term surges in visitors, which can strain local infrastructure and negatively impact local communities. Countries like San Marino (third place), the Bahamas (fourth place), Saint Kitts and Nevis (fifth place), and Antigua and Barbuda (sixth place) all experience heavy cruise traffic, often receiving more visitors in a day than they have locals.
The full list of most crowded destinations is:
Vatican City
Andorra
San Marino
Bahamas
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahrain
Monaco
Malta
Hong Kong
France remains the most visited country in the world, welcoming over 100 million international tourists in 2024, particularly when Paris hosted the Olympics.
Spain followed closely with 94 million visitors to the country, thanks to its sun-soaked coastlines, rich history and vibrant cities. However, growing tensions between locals and tourists, especially in Barcelona, have started to shift public sentiment.
The United States of America finds itself in third place with 72 million international tourists in 2024. As well as being one of the largest countries in the world, this popularity is driven by its diverse attractions, from iconic cities like New York and Los Angeles to natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.
The full list of most visited countries is:
France
Spain
United States
Italy
Türkiye
Mexico
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
Greece
Japan
For quieter alternatives that provide a more relaxed and authentic experience, here are the places you should consider:
Siena, Italy: For those looking to soak up medieval charm without the crush of tourists, Siena offers stunning Gothic architecture, peaceful piazzas and important religious landmarks, all set in the heart of the Tuscan countryside.
Slovenian Alps: If you want alpine beauty and world-class skiing but with fewer crowds, the Slovenian Alps offer breathtaking scenery, charming mountain villages and quieter slopes that are perfect for a more relaxed getaway.
Seychelles: This island nation receives fewer visitors, has more protected nature reserves and offers a greater sense of seclusion than a place like the Bahamas. Seychelles is globally recognised for its commitment to conservation, with over 40 per cent of its land is under formal protection, including UNESCO-listed sites like the Vallée de Mai and the Aldabra atoll.
Rovinj, Croatia: For a luxurious coastal experience with fewer people, Rovinj on Croatia's Adriatic Coast combines charming old town streets, upscale dining and beautiful seaside views without the crowds.
Mauritius: This island nation offers a rich mix of architecture, language and cuisine thanks to its Indian temples, French colonial buildings, sugarcane fields and volcanic peaks.
To find out which cities and countries have more tourists than locals, Go2Africa collected the most recent data from official sources like tourism boards and international organisations. They focused on visitor numbers from 2024 and 2023 when the above was unavailable, and gathered population figures from the same period to make accurate comparisons.
For each location, they calculated the ratio of tourists to locals by dividing the number of visitors by the number of residents. This ratio highlights places where tourists vastly outnumber the local population.
(With inputs from a news source)
