6Dubrovnik: Protecting Heritage in the Age of Social Media
Dubrovnik, Croatia, has become an international hotspot, especially after being featured as a filming location for the hit TV series Game of Thrones. The influx of fans and tourists has put immense pressure on the city’s medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The narrow streets and ancient buildings, which were not designed to handle large crowds, have struggled to cope with the surge in visitors.
To protect its cultural heritage, Dubrovnik has taken drastic measures. The city has imposed a cap on the number of cruise ships allowed to dock each day and limits the number of visitors entering the Old Town to 8,000 per day. The local government has also installed cameras to monitor crowd density in real-time, allowing authorities to redirect tourists to less crowded areas if necessary.
Dubrovnik’s efforts reflect a broader trend among historic cities to prioritize preservation over profit. By limiting the number of tourists, the city hopes to ensure that future generations can enjoy its beauty and history without causing irreparable damage.
