The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is sounding the alarm over the spread of “selfie tourism”, which it says could destroy some of the world's most iconic sites.
UNESCO defines selfie tourism as “the trend of travelers visiting places primarily to take and share photos of themselves, often with iconic landmarks and getaways in the background.” While the organization acknowledges that taking photos has been a traveler hobby for as long as cameras have existed, selfie tourism is something completely different.
“This phenomenon has gained significant momentum with the rise of social media platforms, where visually appealing content increases user engagement,” said a UNESCO spokesperson Mirror“While people have always taken photos on vacation, the focus has shifted from capturing memories to creating shareable moments, often for the purpose of gaining likes, followers and social media fame.”
Selfie tourism has led to some sensitive areas and ecosystems being flooded with photo-hungry tourists, which has negatively impacted local communities in some destinations. “In many cases, it has led to overcrowding at certain landmarks, created pressure on local infrastructure and contributed to the deterioration of the overall visitor experience,” the spokesperson explained.
UNESCO added that the frenzy accelerates “wear and tear” in “historical sites, natural landscapes and infrastructure” that may be impossible to recover from. It noted that the phenomenon could lead to “loss of significance” for destinations, something “essential for the existence of a cultural or natural site”.
“Some previously unknown destinations have been thrust into the global spotlight through social media,” the spokesperson said. “This has led to an influx of visitors that can impact local environments and communities.”
But UNESCO noted that overcrowding is not the only concern. As always, poorly behaved travelers risk spoiling everyone's fun. “Additionally, focusing on taking the perfect photo can sometimes lead to disrespectful or harmful behavior, such as trespassing, vandalism or even accidents, as people go to great lengths to capture the perfect shot,” the organization said.
UNESCO has slammed influencers who “set a precedent for millions of followers” by posting tourism selfies, urging them to set better examples for their fans. “UNESCO encourages visitors to approach these sites with respect and curiosity, to take the time to truly experience the unique culture and heritage of the destinations, and to remember that their actions have an impact on the conservation of these sites and the well-being of the communities surrounding them,” the organization advised.
Land destruction aside, selfie tourism has led to some dangerous incidents in the past few months. Last month, a tourist died trying to take a selfie at a popular waterfall in Bali. In April, a man was mauled by a grizzly bear after a disastrous attempt to take a selfie.