A charming village that was granted UNESCO world heritage status has lamented that the designation has transformed it into a “tourist zoo.” The residents of the picturesque mountain village of Vlkolinec in Slovakia are now calling for the revocation of their UNESCO status, stating that it has negatively impacted their way of life.

The once remote settlement of Vlkolínec, nestled in the Carpathian mountains, has been promoted globally as a medieval fairytale destination. However, the villagers feel that UNESCO’s strict preservation regulations have destroyed the essence of their village.

According to a local resident, the UNESCO recognition has reduced them to a mere tourist attraction, depriving them of privacy, dignity, and their traditional lifestyle. Restrictions imposed by UNESCO now prohibit activities such as livestock farming, crop cultivation, and even basic home repairs without approval.

UNESCO bestowed world heritage status on Vlkolínec in 1993 to safeguard its 43 historic wooden houses, some dating back to the Middle Ages, as an exemplary Central European rural settlement. Despite its small size with only four remaining families, the village now attracts approximately 100,000 visitors annually.

The influx of tourists has led to intrusive behavior, with visitors wandering through private gardens and peering into homes as if the residents were exhibits in a zoo. Over the past three decades, the village’s population has dwindled from 27 to just 14 individuals, as many houses have been converted into vacation homes while hordes of tourists roam the streets.

The situation has sparked distress among the locals, who feel overwhelmed by the impact of their UNESCO status on their daily lives and cultural heritage preservation efforts.