Where Not To Go on Vacation: Destinations Saying “No” to Visitors

With rising concerns over the structural integrity and preservation of ancient cities and sites that are seeing record numbers of tourists descend upon their fragile grounds, local organizations and governments have taken measures to do what they can to protect their centuries- (sometimes millennia-) old environments so generations to come can enjoy the same magical scenery as their ancestors. Some destinations have gone as far as to dissuade visitors from coming in the first place, and those locales comprise Fodor’s annual “No-Go” list, a yearly list of cities and/or specific tourist attractions that don’t want to see an increasing number of travelers this year. Here are the spots that made the list for 2020.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The temple complex in northern Cambodia dates back hundreds of years and is a peaceful and powerful example of the area’s history, but millions of tourists have descended upon the temple grounds in recent years and jeopardized the construction and character of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bali, Indonesia

Once a spiritual site for Western travelers, Indonesia’s most-visited island is considering a new tourism tax to prevent potential environmental damage caused by the increasing number of visitors. The government is even drawing up a list of behavioral guidelines that visitors must obey, such as dressing appropriately when visiting religious sites and respecting cultural norms.

The Galapagos Islands

Increasing popularity in the islands off the coast of Ecuador have officials charging a fee of $100 to visit the national park and a proposed visitation fee of $200 for those who stay for three nights or more on the mainland, but who have a visit to the islands in their trip itinerary.

Anywhere: Elephant Riding

Many an Instagram and Facebook account are likely to feature at least one photo of the user riding an elephant either in Thailand or India, but extensive research into these “businesses” revealed these animals live in poor conditions and are not treated well. Animal rights groups are urging tourists to skip these activities in protest of the poor treatment of these animals.