New York named as ‘endangered destination’
You might be wondering what New York, Riga in Latvia, the island of Madagascar and Beijing's historic hutongs have in common, but they are all on an endangered destinations lists.
According to Wanderlust magazine, all of the above holiday hotspots are in need of greater care to prevent irreversible damage.
Also on this year's list are Britain's Three Peaks Challenge and London's Borough Market, a foodie mecca frequented by TV chef Jamie Oliver, plus Wadi Rum in Jordan for the second consecutive year, the Swahili island of Lamu in Kenya, the Coruh River in Turkey and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lyn Hughes, editor-in-chief at Wanderlust said: “Rapid development, booming visitor numbers and political strife are just some of the issues highlighted in our Endangered Destinations List.
"People may be surprised that the Three Peaks Challenge and Borough Market feature, but both risk losing what makes them special if current trends continue. We want to bring attention to the issues and urge British holidaymakers to travel with care in 2011."
Hordes of stag and hen parties are rapidly ruining the historic heart of Riga,a World Heritage Site, said Wanderlust, while Madagascar needs more tourists to provide money and jobs for local communities.
“Tourism can be a double edged sword for destinations. At the same time as supporting local communities, if things aren’t managed properly the negatives can soon outweigh the positives creating major environmental and cultural issues," added Hughes.
"Wadi Rum in Jordan is a case in point – it appears on our list for a second year in a row as uncontrolled tourism is fast threatening to spoil this unique destination.”
New York made it onto the list for the first time after plans were announced to phase out its iconic yellow cabs. Writers have also lamented the loss of the squeegie guys banned by the former mayor and the fact that the Statue of Liberty is now less photographed than the Apple store on Fifth Avenue.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports