The surprising country that is overwhelmed by tourists: the number of annual visitors triples the number of inhabitants

Mass tourism is a growing problem, as has been seen recently in various parts of Spain, which is the second most visited country in the world (only behind France). However, there is another European nation that has a much worse ratio of visitor numbers to population , and while it may not be one of the continent's major tourist destinations, the reality is that it is being overwhelmed by hordes of travelers.

That country is none other than Austria, and the Central European nation has become an increasingly sought-after destination for tourists. According to MoneyTransfers data , the number of visitors vastly outweighs the number of people who live year-round in Austria, which is causing enormous strain on the country's major tourist destinations, especially in the wonderful city of Vienna.

Mass tourism in Austria

The money transfer company used data from 2022 to verify that Austria receives 3.6 travelers per inhabitant, although if that data is transferred to 2024, the figure is even more chilling: last year, the country received 46.7 million tourists from abroad, placing it in the top 15 most visited nations worldwide, and among the top eight in Europe.

On the other hand, Austria is home to just over 9.1 million people, so if you divide the number of tourists by the country's population, the result is 5.1 travelers per resident, making it the most crowded nation on the entire continent. It far surpasses the two major European powers in the sector, France and Spain, which are less stressed (although they still have problems).

The quality of life and the immense beauty of Austria's monuments , as well as the country's impressive natural landscapes , are attracting more and more tourists to this fascinating Alpine nation. While it's not always crowded, it is true that during certain months (such as summer), there can be excessive numbers of tourists.

The most crowded tourist place in the world

According to the study, the three most crowded places on the planet are all in the same country: Thailand. While Phuket leads the ranking with a huge gap between tourists and locals, the cities of Pattaya and Krabi are also severely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tourists, reaching an almost unbearable level.