Phuket in Thailand has been named as the world’s most overcrowded travel hotspot, with 118 tourists for every single local resident, and one traveller said you’d be faced with ‘wall to wall people’
Tourists are growing tired of a holiday hotspot that has become too popular for its own good.
The issue of over-tourism has become a pressing concern in the travel industry, especially after the post-Covid resurgence led to an exceptionally bustling summer as holidaymakers, previously confined by lockdowns, finally embarked on their long-awaited journeys. Last year Venice launched a day-trip tourist tax aimed at reducing the influx of visitors to the City of Water.
It’s far from being the first popular destination to implement such a measure, with numerous other cities and countries already striving to curb tourist numbers. In the UK, Brighton is considering whether to introduce such a measure, in a bid to swell the council’s coffers while controlling the impact of tourism.
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Thailand is one place that has recently introduced a similar levy, and for good reason. Phuket, an island in the country, has been deemed the world’s most overcrowded destination. A study from MoneyTransfers.com found that that this Thai gem has a staggering 118 tourists for every local inhabitant.
Phuket boasts some of the world’s top coastal spots, including Kata and Karon. As Thailand’s largest island, it offers around 90 miles of coastline. However, experiences on the island can vary greatly. Patong, one of Phuket’s most renowned resorts, is famed for its vibrant nightlife, rows of beach deckchairs, and hordes of tourists.
In contrast, the north and east sides of the island offer tranquil seaside spots and more authentic, affordable Thai cuisine. A disgruntled traveller took to Tripadvisor to share their disillusionment with Phuket, recounting their experiences from the 70s to a visit seven years ago. “I made my first trip to Phuket in the mid 70’s and have returned many times since, the latest around seven years ago,” they began.
“Needless to say there have been huge changes over the years and I expected to see a lot more people there during our visit. However, nothing could have prepared me for the hordes of people crowding the island, the beaches and the day tours to outlying islands.”
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They expressed dismay at the influx of new visitors: “A crush of new tourists are arriving and often on non-stop, wide bodied flights. This is on top of an already large number of tourists visiting from other countries and from within Thailand itself, and my perception is that the sheer number of bodies is overwhelming the place. Fortunately we had a nice resort away from the crowds so the visit was not a total loss. If you love wall to wall people, go to Phuket, but if not, I suggest you look for some less crowded places in the region.”
As Thailand grapples with a tumultuous travel industry that saw visitor numbers plummet from 40 million in 2019 to a mere 200,000 in 2020, only to surge dramatically as borders reopened, the country implemented a tourist tax in April last year. Now, all airfares into the country include an additional £6.60 charge.
If you fancy experiencing Thailand when it’s less crowded, it would be prudent to avoid the peak season between November and March. Although temperatures might be slightly cooler, they’ll still hover around the 30C mark in many areas.
“I just feel like everyone tries to do something different, but you always wind up doing the same damn thing,” exclaims Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Danny Boyle’s The Beach. His words are prophetic in both the film and real life.
The success of the movie would sound a death knell for the pristine, idyllic beach that gives the flick its name. More and more people travelled to Maya Bay where it was shot, to bask in its impossibly blue waters and sunbathe on the golden sands.
Today, the reality of the Thai destination could not be further from the slice of paradise at the heart of the film. Boats are banned from motoring into the bay as their presence was cluttering up the waters and chasing away the 40 blacktip reef sharks who usually cruise there out of the cyan shallows.
Tourists must buy a 400baht (£8) ticket to step onto the beach, only to be shepherded out again after an hour. Swimming is banned to protect the fragile reef system there. Officials decided to shut the bay – on Phi Phi Leh island in the Andaman Sea – first for four months and then several years from 2018, it finally opening up again in 2022.
One recent visitor to Maya Bay likened it to “Times Square in New York”, such is the hustle, bustle and density of the crowds found there. If you’re planning to visit Thailand, check out our guide on the quieter, less overcrowded beaches you can visit instead.