European Travel Fines Exceed £200
Tourists face fines exceeding £200 for rolling suitcases on certain streets or wearing bikinis outside designated areas in some European destinations. These local regulations are designed to curb noise and preserve public decorum, with enforcement expected to ramp up as travel season begins. Airports are calling for an "urgent review" of new Entry/Exit System rules to prevent hours-long immigration queues during Easter holidays.
- The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals crossing the external borders of 29 European countries. It will replace manual passport stamping and is expected to be fully operational by April 10, 2026. The system will collect travelers' names, travel document data, and biometric information, including fingerprints and facial images. - Many of these local rules are a response to "overtourism," a phenomenon where the sheer volume of visitors strains local infrastructure, degrades the environment, and diminishes the quality of life for residents. In some popular destinations, the influx of tourists has led to housing shortages and increased living costs for locals. - In Croatia, fines for public order disturbances such as fighting or being drunk in public can be as high as €4,000. Walking shirtless or in swimwear in some town centers can also result in on-the-spot fines. - Spain is also cracking down on unregulated tourism. Cities like Barcelona and Madrid have implemented restrictions on new holiday rental licenses to combat the negative effects of short-term lets on the housing market. By 2029, Barcelona plans to completely ban holiday apartments. - In Italy, it is a legal requirement for tourists to carry their passports at all times, and police can ask to see them at any point. Visitors can also be fined for sitting, eating, or drinking near churches and public buildings in some cities. - The issue of unruly tourist behavior has been a long-standing concern in some areas. For instance, the Croatian island of Hvar introduced significant fines in 2017 to curb public drinking and disorderly conduct by tourists. - The new regulations are not just limited to behavior. In Spain, hotels and holiday rentals are now required to digitally transmit guest ID information to law enforcement in real-time.
