12 Destinations Where Travelers Report Feeling Unwelcome, Survey Data ShowsMarcel KuhnUpdated November 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM0 Copied
Travel used to be about discovering new places and feeling the warm embrace of different cultures. These days, that romantic notion feels increasingly outdated as destinations worldwide report growing tensions between visitors and locals. Recent survey data paints a troubling picture: travelers are encountering hostile reception in places they once considered havens.
The numbers tell a stark story. According to Global Rescue’s latest survey data, 72% of experienced travelers believe Americans will be received more negatively abroad in 2025. This shift represents more than mere inconvenience; it signals a fundamental change in how the world views tourism and its impact on local communities.
Barcelona, Spain: Water Guns and Angry Protests
On July 7, 2024, thousands of people marched down La Rambla in Barcelona, carrying signs with messages like “Tourism kills the city” and “Tourists out of our neighborhoods.” Some demonstrators went further, using water pistols to spray tourists dining at restaurants along La Rambla, forcing them to leave their tables. Social media posts show Barcelona locals spraying tourists with water guns, fed up with overtourism. The city now faces nearly two hundred thousand daily visitors overwhelming transport and healthcare systems.
Platforms like Airbnb have driven up housing prices, displacing locals from central neighborhoods. In El Born (Barcelona), tourist rentals outnumber local homes. The situation has become so dire that residents near La Sagrada Família say over 70% of local businesses now only serve tourists.
Venice, Italy: A City Drowning in Visitors
In April 2024, Venice introduced a €5 fee for day-trippers. On the first day, protest groups marched through the narrow streets holding banners like “Welcome to Veniceland” and “No to the ticket.” In 2021, cruise ships were banned from docking in the city center after years of protests. Local musicians like Alessio Centenaro describe feeling like foreigners in their own city.
Venice has always been a city of tourists, he adds, but it also once had a sizable resident population. The number of residents in Venice has plummeted as visitor numbers to the city continue to rise. In Venice, for example, average residential rents have jumped 30.9% since August 2021, rising from 11.32 euros/m² to 14.82 euros/m² as of November 2025.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Stay Away Campaign
In Amsterdam, anti-tourism sentiment is not limited to fringe groups; the city government is urging British holidaymakers to stay away. Last March, the “Stay Away” online campaign targeted British people searching for stag parties or party weekends in Amsterdam. The campaign represents an unprecedented move by a major European capital to actively discourage tourists.
Amsterdam intensified its efforts in March 2024 with an online survey called Amsterdam Rules, aiming to discourage certain tourists. Amsterdam also plans to ban cruise ships by 2035, addressing what one local politician called a “locust plague” of tourists. Despite these efforts, the city remains Europe’s most expensive rental market.
Mallorca, Spain: Living in Cars Due to Tourism
In Mallorca, over 1,000 people were living in cars in 2024 due to housing shortages. The island has become a symbol of how tourism can price out entire local populations. The Associated Press reported that the largest protest occurred in Majorca where approximately 5,000 people took to the streets in the island’s capital city of Palma. The demonstrations turned the paradise destination into a battleground between locals and visitors.
Protesters have adopted increasingly direct tactics, including stopping tour buses and setting off flares. The island’s pristine beaches now face severe pollution from mass tourism, with areas like the Puntal plagued by trash from drinking parties that threaten marine life.
Russia: Diplomatic Tensions Create Hostile Environment
Once a bucket-list destination for Americans eager to explore Moscow’s Red Square or St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, Russia has become increasingly unwelcoming to U.S. citizens. Diplomatic tensions have escalated to the point where travel is uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. The country that once welcomed American cultural exchange now presents significant risks for visitors.
According to travel reports, “Moscow and St. Petersburg, once popular destinations for American tourists, are now off-limits. American tourism to Russia has collapsed dramatically, with only about 6,000 US visitors in 2022 according to available data.” Those numbers have plummeted as relations deteriorated, creating an atmosphere of suspicion around foreign visitors.
Canary Islands, Spain: Environmental Protests Target Tourism
Meanwhile, a third of Canary Islands residents were at risk of poverty in 2023, despite the tourism boom. Nestor Marrero Rodríguez, secretary of ATAN (the Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature), believes that the authorities are not doing enough to help the situation. “New projects are still being planned which contribute to the current situation of degradation of the territory and perpetuate the poverty of Canarian society.
In Tenerife, where protestors staged hunger strikes in 2023 over new tourist developments, occupancy has surged by 12.7%. This resilience comes amid warnings from protestors in the Canary Islands, who have pledged to adopt more “direct and uncomfortable” methods in their opposition to mass tourism this year.
Egypt: Political Instability Creates Unwelcoming Atmosphere
While Egypt is a popular destination for tourists, political instability and security concerns may make it a less welcoming place for Americans. In 2025, additional barriers could occur due to tense diplomatic relations and safety risks. Local sentiment has soured as economic challenges intensify, with some Egyptians blaming U.S. policies for regional instability.
American travelers report facing more intensive questioning at borders, higher unofficial “tourist taxes,” and occasionally hostile interactions in areas outside major tourist zones. While the Egyptian government officially welcomes tourism dollars, the on-the-ground reality for Americans has become increasingly uncomfortable.
Greece: Santorini and Island Protests
Greece: Santorini and other Greek islands attract millions yearly, leading to protests from locals about the deteriorating experience during peak season. The iconic white-and-blue paradise that graces countless Instagram feeds now faces serious overcrowding issues that have sparked local resentment.
While Greece maintains its reputation for hospitality, there are frustrations about tourism’s impact, the lack of an overarching plan is the main issue. Islands like Santorini struggle with infrastructure that cannot support the massive influx of cruise ship passengers and summer visitors, leading to water shortages and waste management crises.
Split, Croatia: Fines and Growing Tensions
The historic coastal city of Split, Croatia, has taken steps to combat antisocial tourist behavior after a surge in rowdiness last summer. Visitors might see signs warning of €300 fines for public urination, climbing on monuments, jumping in fountains, or sleeping in public areas. The city has transformed from a welcoming destination to one where tourists face constant surveillance and penalties.
Local authorities report increasing incidents of disrespectful behavior, forcing them to implement harsh measures that create an adversarial relationship between visitors and the destination. The city’s historic charm now comes with a list of prohibitions that make tourists feel unwelcome rather than welcomed.
Parts of Europe Affected by U.S. Policy Tensions
Perhaps most surprising is the growing coolness toward American tourists in parts of Europe, traditionally the most welcoming region for U.S. travelers. While Europeans generally distinguish between American government policies and individual citizens, recent trade tensions have created palpable friction. According to travel experts, recent diplomatic disputes have strained traditional alliances.
According to recent surveys, 72% of experienced travelers believe Americans will be perceived more negatively abroad in 2025. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of experienced global travellers believe Americans will be received more negatively and with less warmth while travelling overseas in 2025. This represents a dramatic shift in international perception that affects millions of American travelers.
Mexico City: Anti-Gentrification Protests Target Foreigners
Nan Palmero was at a rehearsal dinner in Mexico City’s trendy Roma Norte neighborhood, ahead of a wedding of two American friends, when he heard a “rumbling” outside. From the restaurant’s second story, Palmero described seeing a large group of people moving through the streets, some holding placards, shouting “Gringos leave.” He later learned that demonstrators smashed restaurant windows and damaged vehicles.
The protests in Mexico City represent a new front in anti-tourism sentiment, where digital nomads and remote workers have driven up housing costs in trendy neighborhoods. Residents feel pushed out of their own communities by foreign money, creating resentment that spills over into confrontation with visitors.
Jordan: Proximity to Conflict Deters Visitors
More than 200 Canadian travel advisors saw that firsthand in Jordan in 2024, during the conference of The Travel Agent Next Door. Jordan is not involved in the war in Gaza, but its proximity has slowed tourist arrivals to a fraction of pre-war numbers. The country exemplifies how regional conflicts can create unwelcoming conditions even in stable nations.
Even in regions classified as safe, perception matters. A conflict next door can be enough to alter travel demand across an entire region. Jordan’s tourism industry has suffered despite the country’s commitment to hospitality and safety, showing how geopolitical tensions can make travelers feel unwelcome regardless of local attitudes.
As overtourism persists, residents’ reactions often move from tolerance to complaints to confrontations. The destinations that once competed fiercely for visitors now find themselves overwhelmed by their own success, creating environments where travelers increasingly report feeling unwelcome rather than embraced.
