Which European countries are fighting excessive tourism and what restrictions have been introduced

Tourism is one of the largest sectors of the global economy, attracting millions of people to different parts of the world every year. However, the popularity of some places sometimes has negative consequences.

Some European cities are traditionally considered to be among the most popular tourist destinations. The Mirror has learned which ones are trying to limit the flow of travelers to their territory.

Communities across Europe are struggling with the consequences of overtourism. Crowds, high rental prices, noise, etc. have all contributed to the fact that some cities have begun to introduce restrictive measures for visitors. Their goal is usually to preserve historical and cultural monuments and improve living conditions for the local population.

Italy

Italy has taken various measures in recent years to combat excessive tourism. In Venice, UNESCO warned of possible "irreversible damage" to the historic center, so an entrance fee of 5 euros was introduced for daytime visitors. In 2019, cruise ships were also banned from entering the city center.

In Portofino, tourists who take selfies in popular Instagram locations are fined to avoid traffic jams. Rome has introduced new rules for tourists, which are subject to fines for non-compliance: it is forbidden to go topless, eat "messy" food, or leave love locks.

Sardinia banned walking on the pink sands of Spiaggia Rosa, and Florence banned the use of Airbnb and short-term private rentals in the city center, etc.

Greece

Since Athens is a popular vacation destination, it is not surprising that measures have been taken to prevent excessive tourism. Since September 2023, the number of people visiting the Acropolis has been limited to 20,000 per day. To reduce the number of people traveling to the ancient landmark, visitors must now book their visit time slot in advance.

And the islands of Santorini and Mykonos have limited the number of cruise ships to reduce the flow of tourists.

Austria

In the Austrian city of Hallstatt, measures have been taken to reduce the number of tourists visiting the picturesque area. In the most popular photo spot, which overlooks the lake shore, wooden fences have been built to block the view.

The city is under UNESCO protection, but on average, 10,000 people visit it a day. Therefore, the authorities also limited the number of tourist buses and cars allowed to enter the city.

The Netherlands

The latest measures in Amsterdam's campaign against "excessive tourism" include setting limits on the number of river cruises that pass through the capital's waterways. It is also planned to ban the construction of new hotels and restrict the entry and stay of tourists in the city.

Spain

Barcelona has introduced a municipal tourist tax in the amount of 5.25 to 6.75 euros per night. The capital of Catalonia has also reduced the number of cruise ships and plans to eliminate short-term tourist rentals by the end of the decade.

At the same time, Seville plans to charge an entrance fee to the historic Plaza de Espana. Protests against tourism continue in Mallorca, so the authorities are expected to introduce new measures.

France

French Minister of Tourism Olivia Gregoire recently presented a roadmap to combat "excess tourism". It included measures to regulate tourist flows and support local authorities that experienced a surge in visitors last June.

UK

Cornwall faces an excessive flow of visitors every year, so now some Cornish natives are facing a proposal for mandatory registration. In March last year, the government also proposed to allocate £160 million to suppress "problematic" behavior.

Croatia

Dubrovnik has introduced new measures for vacationers, prohibiting them from wearing swimsuits, eating and drinking near cultural attractions, and climbing city walls. All of these offenses are punishable by fines and criminal prosecution. Visitors also have to pay 2.65 euros per night from April to September.

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