Austria’s Hallstatt is a scenic and marvellous place to visit. It is also rumoured to have inspired ‘Frozen’, the Disney animated movie. However, this beautiful place is plagued with a huge crowd of tourists — or over-tourism! In fact, the authorities have installed temporary wooden fences to stop flocking tourists from taking selfies!
Hallstatt Is Suffering From Over Tourism!
According to a CNN report, the Austrian village Hallstatt has a population of fewer than 800 people. However, it is attracting around 10,000 visitors every day! The fantastic Austrian tourist attraction attracts over a million visitors annually, many of whom come merely to snap a photo in front of the landmark that resembles the Frozen movie backdrop. In order to prevent tourists from taking pictures, the local administration has just constructed a wood wall.
According to the Travel Wires report, the barrier was taken down as a result of social media outcry. Although its purpose was to prevent crowds from assembling at a single popular selfie location and creating excessive noise that would annoy locals.
Alexander Scheutz, the mayor of Hallstatt, has expressed interest in placing a flag there to notify visitors that they are in fact in a residential area.
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This Austrian Village Is Beautiful!
Hallstatt, one of the most stunning villages in Austria’s Salzkammergut area, is known for its stunning Lake Hallstatt. This town adorns itself with thrilling attractions and lovely surroundings because it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This town is home to Alpine houses as well as a multitude of fascinating activities like boating on the lake that resembles a fjord, exploring ice caves, etc.
The Washington Post wrote about the challenges and opportunities of much more tourists visiting Hallstatt in August 2019. The 19th century saw the start of Hallstatt’s tourism industry, which significantly grew after it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. In 2006, after appearing on a South Korean television programme, it became well-known among tourists from East Asia.
Hallstatt became a prime example of Austria’s over-tourism, which sparked debates about regulating visitor numbers.
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Comment below and tell us if you have ever visited this place.
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