Asia has long been the world’s most romanticized travel destination. Vivid Instagram feeds, glossy travel blogs, and breathless YouTube vlogs have painted a picture of ancient temples rising from morning mist, bustling night markets full of extraordinary food, and pristine beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. The reality, for a growing number of travelers, is something quite different. Overtourism is essentially the idea of a greater than optimal number of tourists visiting any given area, and if left unchecked, excessive visitor numbers can have economic, social, and environmental repercussions that affect the longevity and sustainability of any destination. Across Asia, several cities have crossed that threshold. Here are five places where the hype consistently fails to match the experience on the ground.
1. Bangkok, Thailand – The World’s Most Disappointing Capital
For the second consecutive year, the Thai capital retains its position as the top overrated city, with the percentage of dissatisfied tourists rising from 16.6% in 2023 to 18.4% in 2024. That is a remarkable and telling trend. According to online reviews, Bangkok is synonymous with overcrowding and murky river waters. Even the renowned street food fails to impress reviewers, with dishes like Boat Noodles and Pad Thai, though affordable, lacking in quality for non-locals.
Particularly criticized is the backpacker haven of Khaosan Road, deemed excessively touristy. Despite its fame, this attraction maintains its dubious distinction as Bangkok’s most disappointing spot. Many long-standing problems such as rip-offs, scams and fraud targeting tourists continue unchecked, while the rush to target mass-market visitor sources is also leading to a local backlash with numerous destinations being overrun. The city’s legendary traffic jams trap visitors for hours, while the polluted Chao Phraya River and overwhelming humidity make sightseeing genuinely unpleasant.
2. Phuket, Thailand – Paradise That Collapsed Under Its Own Weight
Phuket overtourism has transformed this once serene island getaway into the world’s most overcrowded destination, where tourists outnumber locals by a staggering 118 to 1. Known for its pristine beaches such as Kata and Karon, and vibrant nightlife in Patong, Phuket has experienced a surge in tourism post-pandemic. This resurgence, while reviving the local economy, has also led to significant challenges for the island’s infrastructure and environment. The numbers simply do not lie.
Overtourism dulls the shine of one of Asia’s most serene tourist destinations. The city’s infrastructure and environment struggle to meet demand; its roads, water supply, and waste management suffer greatly despite increased tourism revenue. Popular destinations like Maya Bay and cities such as Pattaya and Phuket are facing environmental degradation and infrastructure strain due to the overwhelming number of visitors. The influx of large aircraft and non-stop flights into Phuket International Airport has stretched the island’s capacity, raising concerns about whether Phuket’s tourism-driven economy can coexist with the island’s environmental and infrastructural limitations.
3. Kyoto, Japan – A Sacred City Drowning in Selfie Sticks
Kyoto has become the symbol of overtourism in Asia. The alluring Japanese city welcomed 10.88 million foreign visitors in 2024, contributing to a total of 56.06 million trips when including domestic travel. For a city of roughly 1.5 million residents, that figure is staggering. Residents are especially annoyed by swarms of tourists clogging narrow streets and lanes in the city center and overcrowding public trains and buses, which locals rely on for work and school commutes.
Roughly 90% of the Kyoto residents surveyed by Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper complained about overtourism. The city has been forced to take drastic action. Tourists are now banned from private alleys in the Gion geisha district, with fines of ¥10,000 for trespassing. Additionally, a lodging tax of up to ¥10,000 per night for premium accommodations is set to take effect in March 2026. Tourists have been criticized for renting kimonos and trespassing into private residential spaces in pursuit of “authentic” cultural shots, behavior that blurs the line between appreciation and disrespect.
4. Bali, Indonesia – The Island of Gods Sold Its Soul
Indonesia welcomed 13.9 million foreign tourists in 2024, and almost half of those – 6.33 million – visited Bali. The pressure that places on a small island is immense. Overtourism on this Indonesian island has been an increasing problem for years with intense development, particularly in the south. This is straining infrastructure and erasing the countryside, the beauty of which is one of Bali’s biggest draws. Plastic pollution on Bali’s beaches and waste management are real issues, as is the erosion of local culture.
A single tourist uses 1,785 litres of water per day in Bali, while locals use around 14 litres. That figure jumps to 4,000 litres per day for tourists staying in hotels. The environmental math is grim. Travelers have been complaining Canggu is not as alluring as it used to be. It’s hard to be on the go checking out all the cool spots when you’re constantly stuck in heavy traffic. Bali is facing a complex set of issues in the wake of unsustainable tourism growth. The environmental impacts are evident in ecosystem degradation, water availability, air quality, and waste management.
5. Hoi An, Vietnam – A UNESCO Town Turned Tourist Set
Tourism in Vietnam is exploding. In 2023, the country received 12.6 million visitors, while in 2024, that figure rose to 17.5 million – nearly a 40% increase. Its popularity shows no signs of slowing down, and that’s having a major impact on some of its most popular tourist destinations. Hoi An bears the brunt of that surge most visibly. The once-sleepy town has become a major tourist draw, and the influx of visitors has put pressure on this small ancient port town. Located on the Thu Bon River and known for its bright lanterns and colourful buildings, Hoi An attracts travellers from around the world.
Excessive crowds, commercialisation and cyclos have ruined the once-tranquil ambience of this riverside settlement and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two of Vietnam’s celebrated UNESCO World Heritage destinations have become increasingly crowded: scenic Ha Long Bay with tourist cruises, and historic Hoi An with pedestrians along its narrow lanes. Even relatively smaller cities, such as Hoi An’s surrounding towns, have reported rising visitor numbers that outpace local capacity. The lantern-lit streets that once felt magical now feel like a stage, and the souvenir shops selling identical goods on every corner tell their own story about what mass tourism does to a place that once had genuine soul.
