and Cultural Organization

Barcelona is now creating a new ‘zone’ strategy after crowds of eager tourists put themselves in danger to compete with an emerging TikTok trend

Authorities in Barcelona are planning to construct a special zone for people to “take selfies” after a dangerous trend took hold outside its most famous landmark.

A recent TikTok video which went viral in Barcelona saw the tourist-clad destination overrun with social media users clogging metro exits. It’s reported they had been eager to try their hand at replicating the same act in city’s famous square – that is, until the city council stepped in.

Plaça Gaudí, the square in front of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, was fraught with TikTok-enthusiastic tourists balancing their phones on metro escalators to film themselves while the iconic monument appeared in the background.

The sheer amount of visitors looking to capture their individual shots led to severely clogged station exits and was eventually banned. Subsequently, Barcelona City Council has now decided to construct a special zone beside the Sagrada Familia where visitors can take selfies before entering.

The 6,200-sqm ‘anteroom’ will be located between the Nativity façade of the basilica and Plaça Gaudí on Carrer de la Marina. “The new project helps to resolve a space where it is difficult to reconcile uses between visitors to the temple and the neighbourhood,” the city council said.

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Construction on the gathering zone is scheduled to begin after the 2025 summer and be finished by April 2026 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. The €2.7 million (£2.3 million) project is part of a wider €15.5 million (£13.2 million) plan to improve infrastructure and visitor management around the sacred site.

In 2024, the city launched a €44 million plan to regulate crowds in 16 tourist hotspots by deploying more cleaners and police officers to maintain order and safety.

The Sagrada Familia is the most visited tourist attraction in Barcelona and welcomes millions of visitors every year. That said, entrance queues can be quite long so you should be prepared with water and sunscreen.

The Sagrada Família is Antoni Gaudí’s best-known work and has been under construction since 1882. Although the architect Francesc de Paula Villar was originally commissioned to carry out the Sagrada Família’s project, just a year later he was replaced by the young Gaudí.

The Nativity façade and crypt have been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. To learn more about the history of the building, you can book a walking tour of the church, which also include skip-the-line tickets.

Despite the introduction of a new zone to battle tourist and selfie-stick wielders, Barcelona – like many other popular European cities – is still having a standoff with foreign tourists.

Spain hosted a record 94 million international visitors in 2024, compared with 83 million in 2019. Locals have even taken to shooting water at tourists as a way to protest their presence in cities like Barcelona.

“The squirt guns are to bother the tourists a bit,” Andreu Martínez said in Barcelona with a chuckle after spritzing a couple seated at an outdoor café. “Barcelona has been handed to the tourists. This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.”

A travel influencer has taken to social media to brand an ‘underrated’ holiday destination as the ultimate ’10 out of 10′ – and it is perfect for those on a budget

A travel influencer has hailed Malta as the ultimate ’10 out of 10′ destination, branding it extremely underrated. While many fantasise about exploring the historic ruins in Greece or basking on the sun-drenched beaches of Ibiza, Hannah, a TikTok travel expert, insists this often-neglected gem has everything to offer – particularly for those on a shoestring budget.

On her TikTok account @hannahshols, she shared: “Malta is by far the most underrated country I think I’ve ever visited. This is why you need to put it on your 2024 travel list.” She provided a brief cost rundown: “A quick cost breakdown – we paid just over £400 each, five nights in Solana Hotel and spa.

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“That included flights, accommodation, breakfast, baggage and transfers… So, here’s a couple of things that I would not miss out if you’re heading to Malta this year.”

Despite its small stature, Malta packs a punch with historical treasures like its awe-inspiring Megalithic Temples, which predate even the grandeur of Stonehenge and Egypt’s famed pyramids.

The island also boasts spectacular sea caves and the celebrated Blue Lagoon, reports the Express. Hannah, an experienced globetrotter, highly praises the marvels of Malta’s fortified capital Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site acclaimed for being ‘one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world‘.

She enthused: “Please just spend a day in Valetta roaming around, street dining, going to the boutique shops, wandering in and out of the gardens, seeing the cannons being fired at the saluting battery and checking out the harbour front.

“Once you’re bored of city life, please book a boat trip! So, we booked the Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon tour through Get Your Guide.”

Hannah, who found endless charm on the less populated but equally enchanting island of Gozo, described an unforgettable boating adventure that cost her just £29, dubbing it her ‘favourite day’.

She elaborated: “Just one thing I loved about Malta was that it was like nowhere I’d ever been before. It’s got such strong Arabic and Roman influences, it was just absolutely beautiful.

“And everyone we met just seemed so proud to be Maltese. So, overall Malta gets a 10 out of 10 from me and I could not recommend it enough.”

Tourists travelling to Belgium are literally picking apart centuries of history in the fairytale-esque city, where authorities have now pleaded with visitors to show some ‘respect’

Most travellers leave a European city break with a fridge magnet or maybe a cute vintage scarf, but it turns out some people are taking much more damaging keepsakes – bits of the actual street.

That’s what’s happening in Bruges, the fairy-tale-like city in Belgium that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Officials are now begging tourists to stop stealing the city’s historic cobblestones, which date back to the Middle Ages.

Bruges, which attracts over 8 million visitors every year, is best known for its chocolate shops, charming canals, and old-world vibes. But behind the picture-perfect views, locals say the city is literally being picked apart by overbearing tourists who want to take a piece of it home.

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Franky Demon, a city councillor, says Bruges is losing between 50 and 70 cobblestones every month. And while it might seem harmless to lift a loose one from the ground, replacing them costs €200 (£168) per square metre – a price that’s quickly adding up.

“We ask for nothing but respect,” he told The Brussels Times. “Walking in Bruges means treading on centuries of history. Please leave these stones where they belong.”

It’s not just the cost – the theft is damaging some of the city’s most iconic areas, including the Grand Place, Vismarkt, the Gruuthuse Museum and the Lake of Love known as Minnewater – a romantic beauty spot that’s sadly seeing more empty patches than ever.

While heritage plays a huge part in the city’s charm, it’s also a safety issue. With so many of Bruges’ visitors exploring the town on foot, gaps left by missing stones are becoming trip hazards, turning scenic strolls into risky ones.

Over on Reddit, both tourists and locals have been weighing in with suggestions to fix the problem. Some have called for fines and tougher penalties, while others say replicas should be sold in gift shops to stop people from taking the real deal.

CCTV has also been suggested, but for many users, it’s baffling as to why anyone would want to steal a cobblestone in the first place.

One local shared: “I once caught a tourist digging a stone out of the street. I told them horses have been s***ting on it for decades. They didn’t listen and took it anyway.”

The cobble chaos is just one example of overtourism hitting major European destinations. Bruges has already slashed cruise ship arrivals to limit footfall. Meanwhile, Venice has doubled its tourist tax and Palma has capped tour group sizes.

So next time you’re on a city break – settle for the fridge magnet, yeah?

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The town, which has been dubbed the Pearl of Dorset, is a popular holiday destination throughout the year – but some locals say it has become too busy and expensive

Lyme Regis, often described as the ‘Pearl of Dorset‘, is grappling with the issue of overtourism, leaving a sour taste for some local residents at peak holiday times. While Spanish coastal towns are facing heated protests over the mass influx of sun-seeking Brits, discontent is simmering in this picturesque UK town.

As a prime spot with stunning views over the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyme Regis attracts throngs of visitors to its quaint streets lined with thriving independent shops and tasty little cafes and eateries. Yet, despite the obvious charms and a clear love for the town, locals can’t help but feel the pressure from the surge of visitors.

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Union Jacks flutter above Broad Street’s decline, screen-printing the sky with vibrant bursts of colour as people enjoyed their time outside the local haunts. But beneath this idyllic surface, there’s a brewing frustration among residents.

Local Chris Irving, 72, whose home lies just a stone’s throw from the town centre, reflected on his weekly visits: “It’s a lovely place but there should be some more ordinary shops – butchers, greengrocers and things like that. I feel sorry for the locals a bit really.”

Without skipping a beat, when asked whether overtourism is taking a toll on Lyme Regis, Chris said: “Yeah there’s too many people. We pick our days. We don’t come in on bank holidays, as a rule, and some weekends we avoid it as it’s too crowded.”

During the peak season, Lyme Regis sees its population soar from 4,000 to an estimated 20,000, with day-trippers flocking in on bank holidays and weekends, leading to severe traffic jams and parking woes, reports the Express.

The closest railway station is Axminster, situated about six miles away, after Lyme Regis lost its own station on November 29, 1965, following the Beeching Report which led to the axing of many miles of railway deemed unprofitable.

Chris refers to car parking as a “delicate issue” while Matthew Blueberry, who runs the Blueberry shop on Broad Street, laments that parking turns into a “nightmare” when summer crowds descend upon the town.

“It’s a small town and people like the independent shops,” he says. “It can get too busy in the summer. The parking is a nightmare – it’s too expensive.”

Lyme Regis boasts a combination of town council-run and privately owned car parks, with hourly rates ranging from £1.50 to £1.90, alongside options for longer stays.

Yet, according to Matthew, these car parks simply can’t cope with the tourist influx during the high season. The 25 year old points out: “Most people drive in but they can’t find parking. They then go ‘oh I’m going to go somewhere else’. We then lose potential business.

“The main car park is expensive and getting a spot on the road only lasts around 45 minutes to an hour. People also caravan or camp down here, which brings a lot of people in. But overall the town needs to do a lot more to help us out.”

John Smith, who manages Primary Colours in the town centre, says the summer holidays are “chokka” in Lyme Regis. He also agrees parking is a big issue in the town and said local bus services could be more efficient.

The 60 year old says: “There are buses but, like everything else, they’re not as good as they could be. Most people just drive in.

“It would be lovely if people came without their cars as parking is a big issue in town. There is a park and ride though which operates in the summer. But in the summer holidays the town is just chokka. It can get too busy at times.”

Lyme Regis Town Council says it has invested in public transport and parking facilities in a bid to relieve the stress of overtourism. According to its website, this includes bus services, a park and ride service and the creation of electric vehicle charging points.

Residents and visitors of the charming coastal town of Lyme Regis are voicing their sentiments about living in and visiting what’s often described as a quaint, old-fashioned British seaside resort.

Mr Smith, a local, described his home with fondness: “It’s a quaint, old-fashioned and traditional British seaside resort,” he noted.

“It’s also a great place to visit out of season for the grandparents and older people. We’re so lucky to live here.”

Margaret Quinlan, a frequent visitor from Bedfordshire, expressed her feelings about the bustling nature of Lyme Regis: “It’s a lovely place but it does get very busy. It’s not that busy today luckily so we can just walk around. We try and come down when it’s a bit quieter.”

She went on to add concerns about accessibility: “As we’re getting older, it’s not easy to access now. Luckily our flat is the other end of the town so we don’t have to use the main car park which always gets full.”

When discussing the transport links, she mentioned: “Yeah being able to get a train would make it easier.” Reflecting on past visits she said: “We’ve been coming for 20 years and have never been able to get a train in.

“If there was a train station we’d definitely consider getting one. We’re thinking about getting the bus up the hill which would save us a big walk.”

Chris Ford, who runs The Old Forge Fossil Shop on Broad Street, touched on the economic benefits of the town’s popularity: “I’m not going to complain about how busy it gets. It makes the town a great place all year round. It’s a very friendly place to visit for families,” he asserted.

Chris, a local resident, has expressed his scepticism about the feasibility of adding a train station to attract more visitors to the town. He said: “People don’t use the trains to come this far down. We’re three hours from London and people can’t get across the country or even from Bath. So a lot of people are driving or come to caravan parks.”

He further added: “I’m sure (a train station) would bring more people down but it’s getting the trains down into the valley from Axminster.

“I know there’s a track but there’s a big viaduct they’ve got to get across. And, it hasn’t been well maintained over the years.”

Lyme Regis Town Council has acknowledged the town’s heavy reliance on tourism. They stated that “it must strike a reasonable balance between responsible tourism and protecting the environment”.

The council also highlighted the various sustainable travel options available to and around the town. They said: “There are many ways to travel sustainably to and around the town, helping to limit the impact on our local environment.

“Lyme Regis is accessible by rail, coach, road, air and sea and we would encourage, where possible, use of public transport to help reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and congestion on roads.”

They further added: “Lyme Regis is a small town and most places are easy to get to on foot or by bike. Many of the streets in the town are narrow and were not originally built for modern vehicles so congestion is an issue and parking can be a challenge.

“A park and ride operates on the outskirts of the town during the peak season and is an ideal way to take the hassle out of your visit, while also reducing the amount of vehicles and congestion in the town centre.

“The 71 town bus is a convenient way to get around town, stopping off in residential areas, in the town centre and near the medical centre.

“Operated by Damory, the service runs from just after 9am until just after 2pm, Mondays to Fridays, except bank holidays.”

Research has revealed that there is one country in Europe where tourists outnumber locals three to one, and surprisingly, it’s none of the summer hotspots that Brits tend to frequent

When you think of crowded European tourist destinations, Spain and Greece are probably top of mind. But another European country has scooped the title of the most overcrowded tourist destination in the world.

Despite the fact that protestors reclaimed the beaches in Spain to fight overtourism and housing shortages, the country with the most visitors per local is actually Austria. Research conducted by the team at MoneyTransfers.com reveals that the country in central Europe is the most crowded.

The study found that for every local resident in Austria, there are 3.6 tourists. Despite having a population of just 8.9 million, the country welcomes around 32 million visitors each year, as previously reported by the Express. But where exactly are all these tourists heading? Vienna, the culturally rich capital city of Austria, is the country’s top tourist draw.

Known as the ‘City of Dreams’, it’s not hard to understand Vienna’s mass appeal. The capital is home to top-rate attractions including the Schonbrunn Palace, the Vienna Opera House, and the Museum of Natural History. The city is also famous for its delicious namesake cake and baroque architecture.

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But while Vienna may be equipped to welcome hordes of tourists, some of Austria’s smaller locations are struggling with the task. Hallstatt, a stunning village located on the shores of Lake Hallstatt, has seen locals taking to the streets to protest against the surge in tourism.

The small village of Hallstatt sits on southwestern shore of Lake Hallstatt in Austria’s Salzkammergut mountain region. If you’re trying to conjure an idea of the little hamlet, think Austrian postcard: 16th-century Alpine houses on the lake’s edge with snow-capped mountains in the background. But it might be a bit too picturesque.

Hallstatt was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 for its well preserved architecture and its ancient traditions that can be traced back to the Iron Age. But the village has become well-known among tourists recently for its famous free-floating skywalk. Tourists often gather at the village’s famous viewpoint to snap selfies.

In 2024, village officials put up a fence to obstruct the view in an effort to deter tourists from taking excessive photos. Locals have even taken to the streets to protest against the traffic jams and congestion caused by the influx of visitors to their small village.

But if you are keen on a trip to Austria and want to avoid the worst of the crowds then Graz might be a better option, according to the research by MoneyTransfers.com. Austria’s second largest city it may not be as popular with tourists, but it’s renowned as the ‘Capital of Culinary Delights’.

As the historic heart of the Stygia region, Graz has two world heritage sites; the old town, reputedly the largest medieval district in Europe, and Eggenberg Palace.

A trip to Graz during the winter months promises to be particularly exciting during the winter months when the Christmas market opens up. Graz’s Advent Market kicks off the festive season and is hosted right in front of the impressive City Hall at Hauptplaz.

For those keen on adding a historic element to their holiday, Graz’s oldest yule market awaits outside the Franciscan church in Old Town. Christmas markets typically run from mid-November until Christmas Eve.

A National Park in Indonesia is famous for its stunning pink beaches, but to best enjoy the area there are a few policies travellers need to be aware of, including where to stay and when to visit

Pink beaches are a bucket list destination for avid travellers given their scarcity and, in some cases, protected status. These special beaches – defined by the distinct pale pink hue of their sands – can be found in various parts of the world, from Greece to Barbados to Sardinia.

The Komodo Islands of Indonesia are one such infamous destination. The UNESCO Heritage Komodo National Park comprises 29 islands, with Komodo Island being just one among many including other well-known destinations like Rinca and Padar.

Komodo itself has become famous for two things, one being the Komodo dragon and the other its iconic pink sands. But its notoriety has led to a few warnings being issued to would-be tourists over the years.

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In 2019, for instance, Komodo Island was considering completely closing off to tourists after reports that Komodo dragons were being smuggled from the island. The closure was initially intended to start in 2020 but was later cancelled, though general tourism of the park is still closed.

Now tourists are warned of another precaution when planning to visit the island, a further consequence of the island’s increasing popularity. Due to growing crowds, travellers are urged to avoid arriving during certain periods to limit crowding.

According to the travel marketplace, Seek Sophie, travellers should avoid the rainy season from January to March as boat trips don’t run during this time. That said, the only way to see Komodo National Park is on an island-hopping boat tour. Travellers can choose between a sightseeing boat tour or a diving boat trip. Even one-day speedboat trips can be cancelled though, if weather conditions are poor.

Komodo National Park requires all boat trip passengers pre-register their journey. After you have booked your boat trip, you’ll be required to submit a copy of your passport with your photo, full name, nationality, and passport number to your boat host at least one day before your trip, otherwise you’ll be denied entry to the park.

If you’re aiming to see the Komodo dragons as well as the famous pink beaches, avoid July and August which is mating season. Seek Sophie also advises travellers to avoid arriving during local holidays like Raya as these are generally exceptionally busy times, unless you’re prepared to queue for popular attractions like the Padar lookout.

But don’t let the tourist warnings and policies scare you off, Komodo National Park is a one-of-a-kind destination that is certainly worth experiencing first-hand. In fact, Time Out recently listed the Padar Island viewpoint as one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Once you are in the Park though, there are several pink beaches to explore, though the one near Komodo Island is where most boats stop off. That said, because of its convenience and popularity, the sand has grown increasingly paler as travellers make souvenirs of the sand.

Tourists taking sand became a huge problem on pink sand beaches, particularly the famous Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach) of northern Sardinia. Budelli Island – home to one of only two pink sand beaches in Italy – subsequently barred access to all tourists for life.

As on Komodo Island and most pink beaches, the sand gets its distinct colour from the high concentration of red-coloured, shelled microorganisms that are ground by the waves and transported to the beach. After decades of tourists collecting the sand and with no time to recover, beaches like Spiaggia Rosa eventually lose their colour completely.

Those planning a trip to the Komodo National Park are encouraged to be respectful of the ecological sensitivity of the area. It is to protect the region that there are no hotels in the Park. Travellers wishing to prolong their trip can stay in Labuan Bajo town or opt for an overnight boat.