Numerous hotels were built there, which contributed to environmental degradation. The exploitation of the limestone water by the hotels caused extensive damage visible in the form of gray, dried-up terraces. The route through the natural pools was closed in 1997. Today, about 10 pools are open to the public, and it is only possible to enter the travertine without footwear. The Turkish authorities, wanting to protect the area and seeking to have Pamukkale listed as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, were forced to close down the hotels and introduce several restrictions on the use of the site.
Pamukkale, along with Hierapolis, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
