Santorini (Greece), the dream paradise of just 15,000 residents, has become a nightmare tourist overcrowdingWith more than 5.5 million visitors a year, the situation has reached such a point that a local councillor has asked residents to stay at home.

“Emergency announcement. Another difficult day for our city and island with the arrival of 17,000 cruise ship visitors!!! We ask for your attention and We reduce our movements as much as we can!!!”, the councillor declared on his social network ‘X’.

The massive influx of touristsan increasingly common sight in small, picturesque destinations, is profoundly disrupting the daily lives of residents. Beautiful Santorini, famed for its spectacular views and tranquil atmosphere, is now facing a sea of ​​tourists making it nearly impossible to walk its streets.

The situation in Santorini is not unique. In PortofinoItaly, another tourist gem, taking a photo without waiting in line for hours is almost an impossible mission. In Cinque Terrewith its small towns of barely one square kilometer, getting around has become a titanic task.

In Croatia, the historic Dubrovnikpopularized by television series, receives more than a million visitors annually, exceeding the capacity of its infrastructure and causing a feeling of overwhelm among locals.

Spain nor does it escape the tide of mass tourism. Its idyllic places have been transformed into theme parks, where enjoying the original experience becomes increasingly difficult due to the overload of visitors.