You’ll agree: tourism today is ruined by tourists. A couple of weeks ago, videos of Indians performing garba in the most unusual (and in one case, prohibited) spaces—in a restaurant in the USA, at the Great Wall of China, and on an airport tarmac in Vietnam—were doing the rounds, sparking etiquette debates and causing us collective embarrassment. A few days earlier, Hotel Arc-en-Ciel in Gstaad pinned up a seven-point notice for Indian travellers. The crux of it: avoid speaking loudly or stuffing your handbag with things from the breakfast buffet.
We get it; you want to make the most of your time overseas, or as author and chartered account Lavanya Mohan sees it, “seek as much value out of what we have spent as you can”. What you don’t need to do is literally leave your mark there, like a cat pissing on a rug to mark its territory.
It’s not just Indian travellers going abroad inspiring outrage and embarrassment; badly behaved tourists hail from around the world. Some knock over ancient art or block a pathway for the perfect selfie, others spend a bender at the Eiffel Tower or strip naked just for kicks. Earlier this year, Japanese authorities in the town of Fujiyoshida near Mt Fuji scrapped their annual cherry blossom festival due to a surge in tourist numbers and accompanying unruly behaviour. Locals have complained about traffic congestion and tourists littering, trespassing, and even defecating in their private gardens (!).
Tourist spots around the globe are bearing the wrath of overtourism. In 2025, Japan welcomed nearly 43 million visitors, its highest number ever. Meanwhile, Europe hosted more than half of the world’s 1.5 billion international arrivals. In June 2024, the Louvre shut down due to a staff strike triggered by overtourism and its impact on working conditions. Santa’s village in Finland was under a tourist siege, too, and locals and authorities in Rovaniemi voiced concerns over the effect it has on its fragile ecosystem and indigenous practices. There is strain on local culture, environment, and civic issues like waste management,... The signs are everywhere.
Naturally, the places affected are pushing back. There are new regulations, including designated selfie spots, increased visa fees and entry tickets for tourists, no-driving zones, entry restrictions, and so on. Spain has witnessed some of the largest anti-tourism protests. Thailand recently scrapped its 60-day visa-free stay for Indians, saying it would now focus more on “quality tourists”. Whether that indicates spending capacity or general conduct, it says a lot about where we are headed.
To help you avoid becoming that tourist—the one on their way to become a viral meme—and giving us all a bad rep, we scrolled the deep corners of the internet for the dumbest things people do on vacation—and how you can avoid becoming the problem
1. “Do Not Touch” is not a creative suggestion. It’s a complete sentence. Read it. Read it again.
Example: This Irish statue or this tourist or this clutzy couple
2. If you wouldn’t do it at home, don’t do it in someone else’s hometown.
Example: The Scottish Highlands or this historical landmark turned rubbish site
3. Public intoxication is not cultural immersion.
Example: This duo that loves a good snooze or these people who mistook the airport for a restroom or these out-of-control troublemakers.
4. The world is not your canvas, and you are no Picasso.
Example: This ancient petroglyph that didn’t ask you your name
5. Hands off the wildlife. They didn’t sign up for your hugs, hi-fi, snacks, or harassment. Leave them alone.
Example: These stone pelters or this T-shirt slapper
6. Learn to keep a secret.
If you stumble upon a beautiful locale or if the locals take you to a truly hidden gem, don’t get all antsy to add a geotag. Soak it all in and quietly leave.
Example: Good try. We’re choosing to teach by example
7. Don’t get bitten by the photo bug. Take your selfies, take your fake candids, but move along quickly if 51 people have lined up behind you to get the exact same picture. You may not agree, but there are only so many camera-friendly angles you have! Oh, and “No photos allowed” is also a complete sentence… Don’t be sneaky.
Historic sites have survived war, weather, and centuries of history. They don’t need your gravity-defying selfie or any proof of your presence whatsoever.
Example: These nose diggers or this woman who wanted her initials as a souvenir
