- About 89% of travelers surveyed by PhotoAiD said they visited more than one tourist trap in the past two years.
- Nearly 70% of respondents said their latest visit to a tourist trap decreased their trip enjoyment.
- One-third said the main reason for their latest tourist trap visit was friends or family wanting to go.
"I can't wait for my trip to France — I'm planning to visit all the tourist traps!"… is not something you'll typically hear a Paris-bound traveler say, even if their itinerary consists entirely of the top recommended things to do in every guidebook — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame — and little else.
Despite all the negative connotations around "tourist traps," most travelers to a new place can't help but visit the sites that attract a lot of tourists.
Around 89% of American travelers said they've visited a tourist trap at least two times in the past two years, according to a recent survey by PhotoAiD, a tech company that develops apps for taking biometric photos like those used in passports. The online survey, conducted in September 2023, included 1,002 US-based respondents who had planned a trip in the past two years.
Only 1% of respondents said they hadn't visited a single tourist trap in that timeframe.
There's room for debate over what exactly counts as a tourist trap — can the historic and gorgeous Venice canals really be considered a tourist trap, even with the souvenir vendors and flocks of selfie-taking visitors?
When presented with a list of factors and asked which contribute to a destination being labeled a tourist trap, 30% of respondents said high prices, while more than 28% said amenities primarily designed for tourists. Nearly 27% said a lack of cultural or historical authenticity and high levels of foot traffic.
The respondents were also presented with a list of potential tourist traps around the world and asked which ones were the most "trappy." The top three "trappy" destinations selected by respondents were Skylon Tower at Niagara Falls, Moulin Rouge in Paris, and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
When presented with a list of potential tourist traps in the US, the respondents said the most "trappy" were Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, and the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico.
As for whether popular places like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre count as tourist traps, that likely depends on whether you think the historical and cultural bonafides outweigh the huge crowds, vendors selling cheap trinkets, and the offensively high tourist-to-local ratio.
Although nearly all respondents acknowledged recently visiting a tourist trap, almost 70% said their visit to a tourist trap diminished their overall enjoyment of their trip. Only around 13% said it actually added enjoyment to their trip.
So why do Americans keep visiting these places?
It would appear social factors are largely to blame.
A third of respondents said the main reason for their most recent visit to a tourist trap was that their family or friends wanted to go (though you have to wonder if said family or friends would give the same reason), while nearly 20% said the main reason was because it was highly recommended.
Other reasons cited included curiosity or personal interest, the site being considered a landmark, and that it was part of a tour package.
When offered advice on how to avoid falling into a tourist trap, the survey respondents said the most helpful tip was to "visit well-known landmarks, but don't make them the sole focus of your trip."
Avoiding so-called tourist traps, or at least spending less time at them, could also help curb the impacts of overtourism.
Tourism experts previously told Business Insider that spreading out tourists who otherwise congregate at the same places at the exact same times can help destinations manage overwhelming numbers of tourists.
Correction: May 28, 2024 — An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the respondents of the survey, which included 1,002 people based in the US who had planned a trip in the prior two years. It's also been updated to clarify that 89% of respondents said they had recently visited at least two tourist traps in that time, not one tourist trap in that time.
