Are there too many tourists? A visitor to Italy could go to jail after writing his name on an ancient building. Some say the world would be better without any tourists.
X
Next
UK tourist faces jail for Colosseum carving
Are there too many tourists? A visitor to Italy could go to jail after writing his name on an ancient building. Some say the world would be better without any tourists.
X
PreviousNext
What's happening?
The Colosseum is nearly 2,000 years old. In the past, ancient Romans would make animals and humans fight in the building while people watched.
Today, more than six million people visit the Colosseum each year. Now, one of them is in big trouble. Ivan could go to prison for up to five years or have to pay a big fineAn amount of money someone must pay when they have done something illegal or broken a rule.. Why? He wrote his name on the wall of the building.
Many countries need money from touristsSomebody who is travelling to enjoy themselves. . They spend money on hotels, food and tickets to famous places. During the pandemic, over 100 million jobs were at risk worldwide as tourists stayed at home.
But are too many sight-seers doing more harm than good? Ivan is not the only tourist who has found themselves in trouble. A French tourist paid a fine after taking away Italian sand. In Mexico, a tourist was attacked by an angry crowd after climbing an ancientVery old. pyramid.
Find out more
Some are also worried about "overtourism". VeniceA seaport in Italy. It is built on many small islands. has banned cruise ships. They say the large ships are damaging the ancientVery old. city. Many places have big crowds, making it difficult to move or see anything.
In a letter saying sorry to Rome's mayor, Ivan said he did not know how old the Colosseum was.
China has found one answer to this problem. There is an area on the Great Wall of ChinaActually a number of different walls built over several millennia by different Chinese dynasties. Most of the current wall was built by the Ming dynasty between 1373 and 1644. Contrary to popular belief, the Wall cannot be seen from space. where you can sign your name. But this will not work at every tourism site.
X
Previous
Are there too many tourists?
Yes! Big crowds harm ancient sites and the planet. They make life worse for the people that live nearby. No one can enjoy beautiful places when there are too many people.
No! The world needs tourism. Tourists bring money and jobs to places around the world. And everybody should be able to enjoy beautiful and interesting places.
Keywords
Fine - An amount of money someone must pay when they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
Tourists - Somebody who is travelling to enjoy themselves.
Ancient - Very old.
Venice - A seaport in Italy. It is built on many small islands.
Great Wall of China - Actually a number of different walls built over several millennia by different Chinese dynasties. Most of the current wall was built by the Ming dynasty between 1373 and 1644. Contrary to popular belief, the Wall cannot be seen from space.
UK tourist faces jail for Colosseum carving
Ivan the terrible tourist? The sightseer wrote a letter of apology to Rome's mayor. Glossary
Fine - An amount of money someone must pay when they have done something illegal or broken a rule.
Tourists - Somebody who is travelling to enjoy themselves.
Ancient - Very old.
Venice - A seaport in Italy. It is built on many small islands.
Great Wall of China - Actually a number of different walls built over several millennia by different Chinese dynasties. Most of the current wall was built by the Ming dynasty between 1373 and 1644. Contrary to popular belief, the Wall cannot be seen from space.