Countries Combat Extreme Overtourism
As global travel surges toward 1.8 billion annual arrivals, destinations are adopting bold strategies to curb overtourism including ticketing systems for popular attractions, cruise ship entry limits, and visitor caps in sensitive areas. Cherry blossom season now requires crowd management efforts to preserve local experience and natural beauty.
- The economic strain on local populations is a major driver of anti-tourism sentiment; in some tourist hotspots, property owners can earn the same from a 10-day short-term rental as they would in a month from a long-term lease, contributing to housing shortages and resident displacement. - In response to local protests against a housing crisis, Barcelona plans to eliminate all short-term tourist rentals by 2028. Similarly, Amsterdam has banned the construction of new hotels to manage visitor numbers. - Access to world-famous landmarks is becoming more restricted; Japan now limits daily climbers on Mount Fuji to 4,000 and charges an entry fee, while Athens has capped daily visitors to the Acropolis at 20,000. - Several destinations are introducing new tourist taxes in 2026. This includes Edinburgh, which will add a 5% levy to overnight stays, and Thailand, which will implement a 300-baht (≈$8 USD) entry fee to fund tourism infrastructure and visitor medical insurance. - Environmental degradation is a critical concern, with some destinations overwhelmed by waste. Bali, which saw over five million tourists in 2023, generates 303,000 tons of plastic waste annually, with only 7% being recycled. - Greece is set to limit the number of cruise ships that can visit popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos to reduce pressure on local infrastructure. Amsterdam also aims to halve the number of large cruise ships docking in the city by 2026. - Cities are enforcing stricter rules of conduct to preserve cultural heritage. Rome has banned snacking near the Trevi Fountain, while Dubrovnik issues fines for eating near historic monuments.
