Preparing for the worst could save your life
The number of visitors is capped at the city’s historical Acropolis. The maximum allowed per day is 20,000, all in prebooked designated hour slots. In 2024, this new booking system was also implemented at other attractions across the country.
The European nation has implemented a number of measures to keep tourism under control, including tourist taxes.
Carrying wheeled luggage through the streets of Dubrovnik city center is not allowed. In an attempt to stop the noise in the old city’s cobbled streets, tourists must leave their luggage in lockers.
Other measures include bans and restrictions such as playing loud music at the beach, which is punished with fines.
From the French Riviera to Paris, the European nation is one of the most visited in the world. As a result, numerous measures have been taken over the years to control overtourism. For instance, since 2022, the Louvre in Paris has limited entries to 30,000 visitors per day.
When one thinks about tourist spots in the UK, London usually comes to mind, but it turns out, Cornwall is suffering from overcrowding too. In response, a registration scheme for short-term vacation lets was proposed by Cornwall Council, and so was a tourist tax.
Japan’s plan to tackle overtourism includes strengthening the country’s infrastructure by increasing the number of taxis and buses (including bus services specifically for tourists).
“We believe this will heighten our goal for Thailand to achieve high value and sustainable tourism growth,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The government announced the launch of a €1 million campaign in 2024 to encourage tourists (both domestic and foreign) "to adapt their destination choices and schedules." The idea is to promote "year-round" and off-the-beaten-track tourism.
Another measure includes diverting tourists from cities such as Tokyo by promoting other less-known tourist destinations in the country.
The number of visitors per day is also capped. As of 2024, the maximum allowed is 4,500 people per day. However, on some special days, up to 5,600 daily visitors may be allowed.
Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia. Numerous measures have been implemented over the years to fight overtourism. One example is the ban on boats in Maya Bay, on the Phi Phi islands.
And another one, perhaps the most bizarre, was that overweight tourists (anyone over 100 kg/220 lbs) were banned from riding donkeys.
The 5th-century Inca citadel is Peru’s top attraction. To avoid overcrowding, tourists can only enter during one of two time slots throughout the day. In addition, a maximum of 10 people is allowed per tourist guide.
In 2023, Phuket had 118 visitors for every local resident, making it one of the most overcrowded destinations in the country. Phuket is popular with backpackers, but local authorities want to attract other types of visitors, including “wealth and wellness aficionados, families with kids, active seniors, and remote workers/ teleworkers.”
The Amalfi Coast is probably Italy’s most visited stretch of coastline. To curb mass tourism authorities introduced an alternate license plate system. This means that rental cars with number plates ending in an odd number can drive through it on one day, while cars with number plates ending in an even number can only circulate on the following day.
One measure was to limit cruise passengers visiting the island to 8,000 a day.
The city also closed its northern port terminal to cruises and introduced a “city surcharge,” which increased in 2024 to €3.25 (US$3.48).
Picturesque Santorini is one of the most iconic Greek islands. Every year, around two million people visit the island and in 2019 some measures were taken to control overtourism.
The Kingdom of Bhutan introduced a Sustainable Development Fee to curb mass tourism. If you want to visit this gorgeous Himalayan nation, expect to pay a daily tourist visa of US$100 (which is actually half of what it used to cost before 2023).
Sources: (CNN) (Time Out) (The Guardian) (Forbes) (The Japan Times)
See also: The tourism industry has returned to pre-pandemic highs
New hotels in the city center have also been restricted and so have short-term room rentals.
Venice has banned large cruise ships from entering its historic lagoon, but the city is still overcrowded with tourists. A tourist tax was proposed for 2023, but it will only come into effect in 2025.
Italy is one of the most-visited countries in Europe. As such, measures to control crowds have been imposed in major cities, including the capital, Rome. For example, in 2023 a €5 (US$5.36) fee was introduced to those visiting the Pantheon.
To curb overtourism, the government introduced a tourist tax in 2024. Now, every person entering the island will have to pay IDR 150,000 (approximately US$10).
Santiago de Compostela is a popular attraction and pilgrimage destination visited by thousands of people each year. Local authorities are planning to introduce a tourist tax and control access to the city’s historic center.
Barcelona has been struggling with overtourism for many years. In 2022 the Catalan capital limited the size of tour groups and introduced noise restrictions.
Bali also plans to ban tourists from renting motorbikes.
Limits were also imposed on bar crawls as well as a ban on smoking cannabis in the famous red-light district. Visitors can also expect to pay a tourist tax too, which in 2024 is 12.5% of an overnight rate.
In 2023, Amsterdam launched an ad campaign discouraging rowdy tourists from visiting the Dutch city.
More recently, the route of bus number 116 was removed from map apps. The bus route was used by many tourists to visit Park Güell, one of Barcelona's main attractions. This obviously had an impact on resident's lives, who welcomed the measure.
The town of Fujikawaguchiko in Japan is located at the base of Mount Fuji and offers stunning views of the country's most famous natural wonder. Naturally, the town is overrun with tourists who come for the views and to start their treks up the mountain. In the summer of 2024, an entry fee for the popular Yoshida trail was implemented.
Japan is famous for its gracious and hospitable spirit, but the country at large has been struggling with the high number of tourists it receives for some time. In March 2024, tourists were banned from entering the Geisha district in Kyoto due to "out of control behavior."
In May 2024, authorities in the resort town built a barrier at a popular viewpoint: the Lawson convenience store. The location offers breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, but locals complain that tourists overcrowd the pavements, litter, and ignore traffic regulations. Three months later, city officials took the net down temporarily due to strong winds in the area, leaving police officers to patrol the block, but said the measurement was effective in driving tourists away.
In 2024, city officials introduced a new rule prohibiting late-night pub crawls in response to complaints from locals. This measure will only apply to tours organized by agencies, leaving independent groups free to plan their own outings. Over the past two decades, mainly fueled by the growth of budget airlines, Prague has emerged as a favored destination for bachelor and bachelorette celebrations, particularly among visitors from the UK.
In 2025, Venice implemented a day-tripper entry fee that is twice as high as in 2024.
Visitors making last-minute plans now pay €10 (US$10.30) instead of the previous €5 (US$5.15). Additionally, the fee applies on nearly twice as many days as last year. This measure aims to regulate tourist flow and discourage day-tripper visits during peak periods.
Tourism is bigger than ever before. In recent years, the number of travelers has increased exponentially across the globe, and many cities and attractions are completely overrun by tourists. But when locals begin to suffer the consequences of mass tourism, it's time to re-evaluate and adopt measures to curb overtourism. This is exactly what many governments are doing.
From tourist taxes to bans and restrictions, in this gallery, you'll get to know how popular destinations are fighting overtourism. Click through to get started.
How popular destinations are fighting overtourism
Barcelona has recently removed a bus route from map apps to discourage tourists
TRAVEL Mass tourism
Tourism is bigger than ever before. In recent years, the number of travelers has increased exponentially across the globe, and many cities and attractions are completely overrun by tourists. But when locals begin to suffer the consequences of mass tourism, it's time to re-evaluate and adopt measures to curb overtourism. This is exactly what many governments are doing.
From tourist taxes to bans and restrictions, in this gallery, you'll get to know how popular destinations are fighting overtourism. Click through to get started.