Global overtourism hotspots: Microstates, islands, and even U.S. destinations feel the strain

Overtourism is turning increasingly into a topic for the travel industry. Particularly in Europe where many locals feel the pressure of large tourists’ crowds.

A new ranking was recently released by safari-specialized tour operator Go2Africa. The T.O. is part of Nawiri Group, a travel organization holding majority interests in travel companies Asilia Africa, Go2Africa and technology developer Bazaruto across 4 African countries.

Go2Africa study underscores a growing global reality: some destinations now host far more tourists than residents, raising concerns about sustainability, overcrowding, and pressure on local infrastructure.

The list identifies the world’s most overcrowded tourist destinations based on national tourism figures, highlighting places where visitors vastly outnumber locals. Although the visitor-to-resident ratios don’t tell the whole story of tourism’s impact,  they offer a valuable snapshot of how dependent — and how burdened — certain destinations have become.

The burden is high for micro-states such as the ones to found in Europe or in the Caribbean. Some cities such as Venice, Bruges, Reykjavik or Macau in Asia feel also the pressure.

Venice counts 40,000 visitors a day and less than 50,000 residents. This represents an average of 5,048 tourists per square kilometer in its historical center. Bruges has 8 million of visitors and tourists per year. According to Bruges tourism authority, the city received an average of 27,000 visitors every day in 2024.

Vatican City leads the global list for Go2Africa

At the top is Vatican City, the world’s smallest state in both size and population. With just 882 residents living in 0.44 square kilometers, the Vatican draws 6.8 million visitors a year — an astonishing ratio of 7,710 tourists per resident. Daily visitation can reach 25,000 people, with ticket lines for the Vatican Museums often circling the ancient walls.

Andorra and San Marino follow closely

Second on the list is Andorra, the Pyrenees microstate wedged between France and Spain. Known for tax-free shopping and upscale ski resorts, it receives 9.6 million tourists annually despite having only about 85,000 residents — roughly 118 tourists per local. Its soaring mountain scenery and duty-free appeal continue to draw visitors in disproportionate numbers.

San Marino ranks third. The mountainous republic, entirely surrounded by Italy, welcomes around 2 million tourists a year but is home to only 33,600 people — a ratio of 60 to one. While often listed among Europe’s least-visited countries in absolute terms, its tiny population means the impact of tourism is deeply felt, especially in its medieval capital atop Monte Titano.

Cruise hubs and overburdened islands

Several Caribbean microstates — including the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis — also appear high on the list. Cruise ships routinely disembark thousands of passengers at once, overwhelming ports and small communities and stretching local resources far beyond their intended capacity.

In eighth place is Monaco, the ultra-dense Riviera principality where 39,000 residents share 2.08 square kilometers. The microstate sees about 340,000 visitors per year. While some local outlets argue Monaco has avoided the worst effects of mass tourism, the influx around its casinos, harbor, and palace square still places it among the world’s most visitor-heavy destinations relative to population.

Malta ranks ninth and faces increasingly urgent concerns about overtourism. With a population of roughly 563,000 and more than 3.5 million annual visitors — a figure expected to exceed 4 million in 2025 — Malta’s delicate environment is feeling the strain. Nowhere is this more visible than Comino’s famed Blue Lagoon, where up to 10,000 tourists descend daily in peak season. The BBC describes “shoulder-to-shoulder crowds,” overflowing trash, and motorboats blasting loud music in what was once a pristine natural pool.

Asia is represented in the top 10 overcrowded places with two destinations: Bahrain and Hong Kong in Go2Africa research.

U.S. States Face Their Own Visitor Imbalances

The U.S. is not immune to overtourism pressures. According to the study, every state now hosts more annual visitors than residents. West Virginia tops the ratio ranking with 75 million visitors to just 1.77 million people — 42 tourists per local — driven by its booming outdoor recreation industry. New York sees the highest total traffic, with 306 million visitors annually, mostly concentrated in New York City. California follows with 264 million tourists drawn to beaches, national parks, and entertainment hubs.

At the other end, Texas maintains the lowest ratio, with only two visitors per resident thanks to its size and large population. Alaska remains the least visited state overall, welcoming 2.7 million travelers a year — a modest figure limited by seasonal access and high travel costs.

Responsibility for the travel industry

Together, these figures illustrate a growing tension between tourism-driven economies and quality of life for residents. It is certainly one of the biggest challenge for destinations to strike a balance between quality of life and tourism development. It also gives responsibility to tour operators and travel agencies to encourage travelers to try new destinations to take off some of the pressure from popular destinations.