Tourists rank the most disappointing tourist attractions in the world. 5 of them are in Europe!
Some of the world's most lauded tourist attractions appear to leave tourists visibly disappointed, a new study has found. Luggage storage company Radical Storage analyzed 95,352 visitor reviews of 200 of the most visited landmarks to uncover the world's most disappointing tourist attractions. The top five places were all European, some of which are often considered the world's best destinations.
The world's most disappointing tourist attraction is in the UK
Inspired by the success of Disneyland in America, Alton Towers was transformed into a theme park in the 1980s. With 10 themed areas spread across 910 acres, it is the largest in the UK. However, the research found that almost half of the reviews for the Staffordshire-based amusement park contained words that indicated a negative experience. For context, the average rate of negative reviews in the study is 10.9 percent.
Alton Towers had the highest percentage of reviews specifically complaining about value for money, including misleading ticket information and expectations of paying for expensive extras, such as expensive food and drinks or access to different areas of the park. The reviews also suggest that it is often not the rides that disappoint customers, but the customer service.
Budapest's thermal baths are overcrowded
The Széchenyi Baths and Swimming Pool in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is the largest medicinal bath in Europe and has been a wellness tourist destination since 1913. However, over a third of people who left a review of the baths online reported a less than satisfactory experience. The baths ranked third worst in the crowds and accessibility category (16.8 percent of all reviews compared to an average of 4.4 percent).
Spain's famous Siam theme park has poor customer service
Siam Park in Spain's Tenerife is the largest water park in Europe, opened by Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 2007. However, a visit to the "world's best water park" is not universally enjoyable. Reviewers often cite rude staff and accessibility issues.
Some reviewers mentioned feeling embarrassed about their weight and mentioned that the park was not accessible to people with disabilities. Overall, nearly a third of the reviews had something negative to say about their experience.
Time Out Market Lisboa is a victim of its own success
Planned and built by Time Out magazine (a British media and hospitality company) in 2014, Time Out Market Lisboa was the company's first venture into food halls. In 2018, the project won the prestigious Hamburg Foodservice Award, one of the most respected awards in the foodservice industry.
But according to reviews, things may have taken a turn for the worse since then. Over a quarter of reviewers left disappointed or underwhelmed. It seems that Time Out Market Lisboa is a victim of its own success. The attraction had the highest percentage of reviews citing crowds or accessibility issues (18.4 percent compared to the average of 4.4 percent).
The Trevi Fountain is very crowded.
The Trevi Fountain is an iconic Baroque monument in Rome and has been featured in such famous films as Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" and Wyler's "Roman Holiday." Every year, tourists throw around 1 million euros into the fountain, and a coin thrown into the water is supposed to guarantee a return to Rome in the future.
But if you’re making a wish at the fountain, you might want to time your visit wisely. After Time Out Market Lisboa, reviews had the second-highest percentage of people mentioning crowds or accessibility issues. Overall, one in four people had something negative to say about their experience. The fountain was also closed for renovations for part of 2024, which may have contributed to some visitors’ disappointment.
Poll
ECB's Lagarde warns: Trade tariffs could increase eurozone inflation by 0.5%!
Trade uncertainty poses a significant threat to eurozone growth and inflation, with tariff-driven price pressures expected to intensify, European Central......
How will administration employees benefit from soft loans? - 100 points that they must meet in terms of housing, economic and family conditions
The Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation has been calling for applications for a soft loan with 0% interest for the purchase of a flat for 530 public......
Trump's tariffs increase the value of gold - How is this movement reflected in the reserves of the Bank of Albania?
The tariffs of the president of the United States of America are not only affecting foreign trade, but also the value of gold, a trend that is also reflected......
EU plans to reduce steel imports by 15% - Aims to protect industry from unfair competition, consequences of tariffs
The European Commission presented an action plan for the steel and metals industry. In a sector characterized by strong international competition, the......
130 million euros more in the state budget - Revenues increase in January-February. Wages and consumption lead
The state budget collected 117.3 billion lek in February, or 102.4% of the plan for the period. Compared to the same period a year ago, about 13 billion lek......
"1FUTURE", the EU's plan against climate change - Albanian universities, in "action" for a sustainable future
Climate change is a global challenge, so international institutions are taking steps to make this challenge as manageable as possible for the economy. One......
Google is "hit" by EU rules - EC accuses the company of favoring its services
Google's parent company, Alphabet, was hit with two charges of violating EU rules, as competition regulators continue their crackdown on "Big Tech"......
“23 digital payments per capita in 2024” - Sejko: Innovation is transforming financial services at a rapid pace
One of the most visible impacts of innovation in Albania's financial services is the digital transformation of payments and banking. Our country is......
