In geography, a honeypot is a particularly popular visitor attraction which attracts tourists (and sometimes locals) in large numbers.[1] The term 'honeypot' originates from bees buzzing around a hive.
Honeypots are frequently used by cities or countries to manage their tourism industry. The use of honeypots can protect fragile land away from major cities while satisfying tourists. One such example is the construction of local parks to prevent tourists from damaging more valuable ecosystems farther from their main destination. Honeypots have the added benefit of concentrating a large number of income-generating visitors in one place, thus developing that area, and in turn making the area more appealing to tourists.[2] However, honeypots can suffer from problems of overcrowding, including litter, crime, and strain on facilities and transport networks.[1]
The once sleepy medieval village has attracted an increasing number of visitors over recent years and is a classic example of a tourist 'honeypot' . . . Ste. Enimie is one of these 'designated' places that are designed to attract people to it and therefore reduct the impact on the surrounding area.[3]
Examples in the United Kingdom include Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District, Lulworth Cove in Dorset, Box Hill in Surrey, Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, Castleton in the Peak District, Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales, Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, and Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds.
Larger honeypots outside of the U.K. include the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Valley, and the Great Pyramid in Egypt.