Romantic horse-drawn carriages could disappear from New York City – these are the tourist attractions that have already fallen out of favour

Horse-drawn carriage rides through New York City could soon be consigned to history, with a proposed ban set to bring the 160-year-old tradition to an end by June 2028.

The move follows growing safety concerns after a teenager died earlier this year after falling from a carriage in Central Park, reigniting debate over the future of the much-loved tourist attraction.

New York City Council speaker Julie Menin has said a bill on the proposed ban is due to be voted on next week.

But the romantic carriage rides are far from the only tourist attraction to fall out of favour. From elephant rides and orca shows to once-popular sightseeing experiences, changing attitudes towards animal welfare, public safety and cultural respect have seen attractions around the world face restrictions or disappear altogether.

Take a look back at the tourist favourites that are fading into history – and those that have already vanished.

Elephant rides

Images showing tourists atop elephants draped in colourful cloth are prominent on social media – but that is slowly changing.

The Indonesian government has now banned the practice, citing animal welfare and ethical wildlife tourism reasons.

Mason Elephant Park in Bali, one of the last venues offering elephant rides, stopped doing so in January this year after receiving official warnings, according to World Animal Protection.

Instead, organisations are being encouraged to focus on observation, education and conservation.

There is no global ban, but many major tour operators no longer offer elephant rides as tourist activities. 

Orca shows

In Mexico and California, you will no longer find the marine entertainment of orca shows that has so captivated audiences around the world.

Under the Orca Welfare and Safety Act, California banned captive orca breeding, as well as circus-style performances.

There may still be performances, but these need to have an educational focus rather than tricks.

As for Mexico, rules came into force last year. Dr Claudia Edwards, Humane World for Animals Mexico’s programmes director, who supported the development of the bill, said: ‘This vote represents a decisive move toward ending the exploitation of whales, dolphins and other marine mammals for entertainment and marks a major stride forward in animal welfare and conservation efforts in Mexico.’

Tiger petting

Hit TV show Tiger King sparked international debate regarding the practice of big cat ownership and animal welfare.

While not all the consequences were positive, it did raise awareness of the issue – in the US, the show revived the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in December 2022.

It is now illegal in the US for the public to touch big cats, pose for photos or hold lion and tiger cubs. 

Segway tours

It seems just a few years ago Segway tours were everywhere you looked.

But across the globe, they have been subject to severe restrictions and, in some cases, outright bans.

Barcelona outlawed Segways from the old city and seafront areas due to overcrowding.

In Prague, they are not allowed in pedestrian zones and historical tourist spots due to safety complaints. 

Meanwhile in the UK, they are not allowed on public roads or pavements – affecting city centre tours. 

Slum tourism

Slum tourism is far from banned overall – but many major destinations have faced crackdowns on the practice.

In New York City, ‘Real Bronx Tours’ were discontinued in 2013, after authorities heavily criticised the so-called ‘ghetto’ experience as inaccurate and disrespectful.

As for San Francisco, the city banned tours of Chinatown in 1909 – here, actors were once hired to perform staged scenes of poverty, opium dens and gambling for wealthy tourists.

Climbing Uluru

The Uluṟu climb – a sacred site in Australia for the Aṉangu, the Indigenous traditional owners – closed permanently from October 2019. 

Climbing Uluṟu was not permitted under Tjukurpa (Aṉangu law and culture), yet from the 1930s it was a popular activity.

Nowadays, however, visitors are advised that climbing Uluṟu is a breach of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and penalties will be issued to those attempting to do so. 

Former chairman of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa board of management, Sammy Wilson, said: ‘The land has law and culture. We welcome tourists here. Closing the climb is not something to feel upset about but a cause for celebration. Let’s come together; let’s close it together.’

Colonial hunting safaris

If you went on a safari in the late 19th or early 20th century, chances are you would have crossed paths with European colonists and aristocrats partaking in a spot of ‘trophy hunting’.

Big-game hunting on safari has faced serious restrictions and bans over time, though naturally it does still exist in places.

Kenya prohibited recreational trophy hunting nationwide in 1977, while Costa Rica banned the practice in 2012.

Human zoos and ‘native villages’

Human zoos, also called ethnological expositions, were highly problematic displays of inhabitants from foreign countries at exhibits in Europe.

The barbaric colonial practice took place across the continent – for instance at the UK’s 1924 British Empire Exhibition and the World’s Fair in Brussels, Belgium in 1958. 

Fabricated native villages reinforced problematic stereotypes and reduced foreign peoples to spectacles.

Fake villages with traditional homes, livestock and performances from people were greatly dehumanising – and fortunately faded after the Second World War.

Snake charmers

Snake charming was banned in India under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. 

It caused havoc in regions such as Bedia, where locals relied on snake charming to source income.

Nowadays in India, you can still find snake charmers – you just might have to look harder.