The over-tourism problem affecting many countries worldwide since 2024 has led European nations to take precautionary measures by starting to impose tourist restrictions or even tourist bans.
What Is Over Tourism?
Over tourism is a phenomenon where the number of tourists visiting a destination exceeds the capacity that the place can handle. This often causes negative impacts such as environmental damage, overcrowding, and disruption to the local social and economic life.
With increasing awareness of the adverse effects of over tourism, many cities and countries have begun implementing measures to manage tourist flows more effectively, such as reservation systems or visitor number limits.
These efforts aim to preserve tourist sites, provide better experiences for visitors, and protect the social and economic welfare of local communities.
Destinations in Europe Implementing Tourist Restrictions
As the impact of over tourism increases, several European destinations have taken firm steps to address the issue by limiting the number of tourists allowed to visit certain attractions.
Which European countries have started enforcing these restrictions?
Tourist Restrictions in Various European Cities
Many famous European cities have begun adopting new policies to tackle over tourism, usually by limiting visitor numbers to specific destinations.
One tightly monitored tourism sector is cruise ships. For example, Ibiza limits the number of cruise ships that can dock simultaneously, while Barcelona has reduced the number of cruise ships allowed.
Other major tourist attractions also limit visitor numbers to combat over tourism. For instance, the Acropolis in Athens restricts visitors to 20,000 per day, requiring advance reservations.
In 2025, Pompeii will implement a daily visitor limit of 20,000. Rome’s Colosseum limits visitors to 3,000 at a time.
Additionally, Seville plans to close Plaza de España to the public and charge tourists €3 to €4 for access, though this policy has not yet been implemented.
Increase in Tourist Taxes Across Destinations
Besides limiting visitor numbers, a common new policy across European countries is raising tourist taxes. Which countries have increased tourist tax rates?
Greece
Visitors to Greece face an €8 daily tax, amounting to an additional €56 per adult for a week-long stay. Some accommodations do not charge for children, while others offer reduced rates.
Besides the tourist tax, Greece imposes a Climate Resilience Tax paid at check-in for all accommodation types, ranging from €1.50 for simple lodgings to €10 per night for luxury hotels.
Cruise visitors to Santorini or Mykonos pay €20, while other locations charge €5. The higher tax for these Cyclades islands was introduced after a record-breaking summer season that saw visitors outnumber locals.
Visiting Greece outside peak seasons (April to October) is more advantageous, with tourist tax reduced to €2 per day and environmental tax ranging from €0.50 to €4.
Portugal
Tourist tax policies in Portugal vary by city, with at least 26 cities imposing taxes, especially popular resort areas like Algarve and Lisbon.
For example, Setúbal charges €2 per person per night, continuing through 2025. Lisbon also charges €2 per night, as do Madeira and Faro. The Azores recently started charging €2 per person per night from January 2025.
Spain
Following mass protests against tourism in Barcelona in August 2024, some believe tourists are no longer welcome. However, tourists can still visit Spain under stricter regulations.
Barcelona has two taxes: a city tax increased to €4 per person per night in 2025 and a regional tourist tax that remains unchanged.
Cruise passengers staying more than 12 hours in Barcelona must pay €6.25. Tourist tax varies by accommodation, from €1.70 for basic hotels to €3.50 for luxury hotels.
The Balearic Islands impose environmental taxes during peak season ranging from €4 per night for luxury hotels to €1 for hostels and campsites. Other cities like Valencia and Madrid have proposed tourist taxes but have not yet implemented them.
Italy
Like Portugal and Spain, Italian cities set their own tourist tax rates. In major cities, Rome charges €3 to €7, Milan €2 to €5, and Florence €1 to €5.
Venice now charges a daily fee for day visitors between April 18 and July 27. Visitors on Fridays to Sundays or public holidays pay €5, rising to €10 if booking less than four days in advance.
Paris
Starting in 2025, Paris has introduced a new tourist tax, including regional and accommodation taxes ranging from €1.95 for campsites to €15.60 per night for luxury lodging.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam continues to apply tourist taxes and recently raised rates from 7% to 12.5% of accommodation costs. For example, a €175 per night hotel room now incurs €21.80 in tax per night.
Edinburgh
Several UK cities consider introducing tourist taxes, with Edinburgh as the frontrunner. Wales and London are also considering taxes, but no plans have been officially enacted.
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