Tourist attractions are supposed to be fun, eye-opening experiences that celebrate history, culture, nature, or human achievement. But not every popular destination has a clean conscience. Some places that once drew in thousands of visitors every year have since been closed—not due to poor reviews or financial issues, but because of the ethical dilemmas surrounding their very existence.
Whether exploiting animals, erasing dark pasts, or turning suffering into spectacle, these sites eventually faced growing pressure from activists, local communities, and global audiences who demanded accountability. The closures didn’t just change tourism—they forced the world to ask tough questions about what kinds of experiences people are willing to pay for.
1. Tiger Temple, Thailand
Nestled in the Thai jungle, the Tiger Temple once drew crowds of tourists eager to get up close and personal with seemingly docile tigers. Monks at the temple claimed the animals were raised with love and compassion, presenting the site as a spiritual sanctuary. However, investigations revealed horrifying truths—drugged animals, illegal breeding, and even trafficking. In 2016, authorities raided the site and found dozens of frozen tiger cubs, leading to an international outcry and eventual closure. What looked like a serene wildlife attraction was, in reality, a front for cruelty and profit.
2. The Human Zoo at Jardin d’Agronomie Tropicale, France
This Parisian park once displayed colonial villages and real people from Africa and Asia, treating them as living exhibits to showcase the “exotic” corners of the French empire. Families would stroll past enclosures and watch these individuals perform daily routines under surveillance, reinforcing harmful ideas of racial superiority. While the park eventually closed in the 1930s, remnants remained for decades, serving as a quiet yet uncomfortable reminder of colonial exploitation. Only recently has France begun to confront this dark chapter, with parts of the site reopened as a memorial rather than a tourist destination. The original attraction, once framed as educational, has since been recognized for its deeply unethical premise.
3. SeaWorld’s Orca Shows, United States
For years, SeaWorld’s orca shows were a staple of American family vacations, thrilling audiences with massive killer whales leaping and spinning through the air. Behind the scenes, though, these creatures suffered in captivity—trapped in small tanks, deprived of natural social structures, and often living shortened, stress-filled lives. The 2013 documentary Blackfish pulled back the curtain and sparked a massive backlash, leading to canceled partnerships, public protests, and plummeting attendance. Under intense pressure, SeaWorld announced in 2016 that it would end its orca breeding program and phase out theatrical performances. What was once a top-tier attraction came to symbolize the cost of entertainment on wildlife well-being.
4. Temple of Doom Tours in Cambodia
At the height of dark tourism, some travel companies offered guided experiences through Cambodia’s Killing Fields and genocide memorials, complete with immersive, dramatized reenactments. These “Temple of Doom” tours aimed to shock and educate but often crossed the line into disrespect, commodifying a national tragedy for foreign consumption. Survivors and local communities condemned the tours for trivializing the trauma and pain of millions lost during the Khmer Rouge regime. As criticism grew louder, many of these tours were shut down or heavily restructured to focus on education and remembrance rather than spectacle. The closures were a necessary step in honoring the dignity of victims and the nation’s healing process.
5. Elephant Rides at Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most treasured archaeological wonders, became infamous for another reason: the use of elephants to ferry tourists around its sprawling temples. While it may have seemed like a unique way to explore history, the treatment of the elephants told a much darker story. Trained through fear and pain, the animals endured harsh conditions and exhausting labor, all for the entertainment of guests.
After the death of an elephant in 2016 due to heat and exhaustion, animal rights groups intensified their campaigns, eventually prompting authorities to ban the rides entirely. The decision marked a shift toward more ethical and sustainable tourism at heritage sites.
Take These Locations Off Your List
Tourism holds incredible power—it can educate, inspire, and create lasting memories. But when ethical boundaries are crossed, it becomes something else entirely: a spectacle that exploits rather than enlightens. The closure of these attractions shows that public awareness and activism can lead to real change. It also invites travelers everywhere to think more critically about how their experiences are created and at what cost. If a travel memory requires someone else’s suffering, maybe it’s not worth making.
Have thoughts on these closures or know of other tourist spots that shut down for ethical reasons? Drop a comment below and join the conversation.
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