Cyriacus of Ancona had itchy feet. In 1421, the world's first tourist began to travel around Europe in search of its classical past.¹ His love of site-seeing was infectious. Artists and aristocrats packed their bags to head to Rome and Venice along a route known as the Grand Tour.

They left their mark. The poet Lord Byron scratched his name on a Greek temple. The novelist Gustave Flaubert was outraged by "a Thompson of Sunderland" who signed a PompeiiA Roman town in Italy. It was buried under ash after a nearby volcano erupted. The ash preserved the town so well that today people can walk through the streets and into some buildings. pillar.

British tourist Ivan Dimitrov adds to this tradition of tourist graffiti, carving "Ivan + Hayley 23" into a wall at the Colosseum in Rome. A passerby filmed him and the police investigated. Despite apologising, Dimitrov may face a hefty fine and five years in jail.

The ancient Roman arena is a protected Unesco World Heritage Site of "outstanding universal value". It once held 80,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Today, Italy's most popular tourist site attracts six million visitors a year.

The first tourist endured bad roads and banditsA robber or outlaw.. Now, over a billion international tourists annually take advantage of low-cost fights.² But are too many sight-seers doing more harm than good?

Many popular destinations depend on tourism. During the pandemic, people stayed at home and over 100 million jobs in tourism were put at risk. Responsible travel can lift communities out of poverty and fund conservation of endangered habitats.

Academic Ross Bennett-Cook says tourism could be the "economic saviour" for Albania, one of Europe's least visited countries. He writes that this beautiful country could follow the path of Greece and Spain, from impoverished dictatorship to tourist hotspot.

But elsewhere, authorities are worried about "overtourism" and have taken measures to curb numbers. Due to littering and eroded paths, Peru has restricted access to the IncaA native South American people who lived in the Andes before the Spanish conquest. citadel Machu PicchuAn Inca city built in the Andes mountains in the 15th Century and then abandoned.. Venice has banned cruise ships blamed for damaging the city's foundations.

The Italian city is sinking. It is built atop 120 islands, crisscrossed by 177 canals and 391 bridges. And it may be underwater by 2100. So anti-tourist feelings run high. Writer Tobias Jones says the world's most perfect places are now "nothing more than the backdrop for our selfies".

In his apology letter, Dimitrov told the mayor of Rome he was "unaware" of the Coloseum's age. Completed in 80AD, the ancient amphitheatreAn open circular or oval building with a space for drama or sports events surrounded by seats for spectators. is the largest ever built. A popular myth is that early Christians were fed to lions at the Colosseum - no historical evidence supports this.

But misbehaving tourists can expect severe penalties. A French visitor was fined €1,000 (£854) for removing Italian sand. In Indonesia, a Russian tourist was deported for disrespecting a sacred site. And in Mexico, an angry mob attacked a Polish traveller who climbed a Mayan pyramid.

China's response to tourist graffiti is a specific stretch of the Great Wall where you can sign your name. It is a novel solution to a habit that looks likely to die hard.

Yes: Massive crowds harm the environment, damage ancient sites and make places too expensive for locals. They are turning attractive destinations into overcrowded eyesores no one can enjoy.

No: Tourists bring money to poorer regions to create jobs, invest in infrastructure and protect the environment and historical sites. Their visits improve understanding between cultures.

Or... It all depends on the tourist. When planning a holiday, it is important to consider how your visit will impact the local community and the wider environment - for better or worse.