Tourism around the world continues to grow. The perspective is that the numbers will exceed those recorded before the pandemic in 2019, when 1.5 billion people traveled internationally. With this gigantic flow, there are destinations that are feeling suffocated by the massive invasion of tourists, generating demonstrations by residents and the adoption of measures to curb and control the number of travelers. Among the most common regulations are the creation of conservation fees and control over the number of visitors. Discover 12 places around the planet, where policies against mass tourism have been adopted and travelers should prepare their pockets.
Venice, Italy
Since the end of April this year visit Venice it became more expensive. Now, to visit one of the most romantic destinations in Europe, it is mandatory to pay a fee of €5 on certain dates of the year (see details of the new Venice fee here). The new tax aims to preserve and raise funds for restoration and maintenance, but also to try to control the large mass of tourists that invade the city, especially on festive days and holidays. It is on these dates that Venice receives 110,000 visitors, more than double the current population of 50,000. Other Italian cities have also adopted measures to control the flow of tourists.
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Venice
Florence, Italy
The birthplace of the Renaissance is an open-air museum, so it is Florence which attracts thousands of tourists every year. This large mass of visitors has generated complaints from residents and local authorities have taken action to try to stop the total lack of control. Among the measures adopted is the application of fines that can reach €500 (R$2,790) for anyone eating on the street at certain addresses. It is prohibited to eat while sitting on stairs, in doorways or even on the city floor, all to avoid clutter and rubbish.
In addition, the creation of new properties for short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, was also restricted. To give you an idea, the number of apartments and houses on the platform has tripled in recent years, reaching 15 thousand. This unbridled transformation of homes into Airbnb has caused the average rent for residents to increase too much, a problem that is repeated in many other European cities.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
With less than 1 million inhabitants, Amsterdam received around 20 million tourists last year. With so many people arriving, the city is taking some measures to minimize the impact and control the huge flow of visitors. “We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors. This means: no excessive tourism…” highlighted the local government in a recent statement when announcing the ban on the construction of new hotels in Amsterdam. In addition to this measure, the city also banned the arrival of large cruises, restricted the sale and consumption of cannabis and guided tours of the red light district, one of Amsterdam's main attractions.
Canary Islands, Spain
The Canary Islands are one of the main beach destinations for Europeans, especially English people. However, the region has experienced a massive invasion of tourists every year. In 2023, with a growth of 13%, there were 14 million visitors to the archipelago, where 2.2 million people live. This huge number has upset residents who have recently protested asking local authorities to limit the number of visitors to alleviate pressure on the environment, infrastructure and housing on the islands, as well as restrict the purchase of properties by foreigners. The local government said it is studying the measures and this could, in the near future, affect current tourism in the Canary Islands.
Barcelona, Spain
The capital of Catalonia is one of the most visited cities in Europe, attracting tourists with its beautiful architecture, beaches, cultural activities, gastronomy and much more. However, the gigantic tourism caused the local government to take some measures to curb the growing number of visitors, trying to inhibit large gatherings and noise pollution. Barcelona limited the size of tourist groups and banned the use of megaphones on tours. In some regions of the city, excursions can only have a maximum of 15 people. In addition to these measures, Barcelona recently deleted a bus route from Google Maps to avoid tourists and last week announced a ban on apartments for tourist rentals, Airbnb style.
Santorini, Greece
Stunning Santorini is one of Greece's most desired destinations. Built on the edges of a dormant volcano, with its little white houses and churches adorned with sparkling blue, beautiful hills and beaches, this Greek island suffers from the rampant invasion of tourists. You may have already seen images of the “swarm” of people fighting for space to see the famous sunset in Oia! There are more than 2 million per year, remembering that the local population is no more than 10 thousand.
To try to minimize the impact of this mass of visitors, most of whom arrive on cruises, the local government has placed a limit on the number of people who can disembark on the island per day. Now, only 8000 passengers can get off at Santorini. This blockade seeks to minimize the impact of the “invasion” on small villages in the region.
Iceland
Full of infinite natural beauty, including the Northern Lights, Iceland has become popular among tourists worldwide. Since 2010, the number of visitors has grown by over 400%, exceeding more than 2.3 million per year. To generate funds for sustainability programs and reduce the environmental impact of excessive tourism, the country's government has resumed charging fees. Hotels and guesthouses now charge ISK 600 (BRL 22) per room, campsites and mobile homes ISK 300 (BRL 11) and cruise ships calling at Icelandic ports ISK 1,000 (BRL 37) per passenger. Charging tourist taxes is very common around the world and even in Brazil.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu It is one of the seven wonders of the modern world and Peru's main tourist attraction. Every year thousands of visitors climb the mountains to uncover the mysteries of this hidden city of the Incas. To try to stop the gigantic flow of tourists without any control, the local government adopted measures to protect and conserve this world heritage site. Now there is a daily limit on the number of visitors, if you want to travel there it's a good idea to plan. In addition, several security cameras were installed to prevent theft and vandalism.
Fernando de Noronha
Bhutan
Speaking of high visitation rates, we come to Bhutan, a country nestled in the Himalayan Mountains that can be defined as one of the most expensive countries to visit in the world. Full of natural beauty and wonderful Buddhist temples, visiting Bhutan costs US$200 (R$1,024) per day. That's it! All visitors are required to pay this Sustainable Development Fee. Imagine that if you want to stay there for a week you will have to pay US$1,400 (R$7,170), but don't despair. The local government recently launched a discount package for those who want to stay in the country for long periods. Between them, you pay for 12 days and can stay up to 18.
Bali, Indonesia
One of the most desired and famous destinations on the planet. Whether you are on your personal “Eat, Pray, Love” journey or simply looking for a beautiful vacation on idyllic beaches in a secular cultural atmosphere. Bali, in Indonesia, is incredible and the country's main destination. Of course, like other places around the world, fame brings problems with the abundant invasion of tourists. To try to control this and increase financial reserves for the preservation of the island, from February this year it is mandatory to pay a tourist tax of 150,000 rupees (R$50). Furthermore, tourists are prohibited from renting motorbikes and climbing Bali's mountains.
Phi Phi, Thailand
Maya Bay, in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, became internationally famous after the film The Beach with Leonardo de Caprio (2000). Every day this bay was invaded by hundreds of boats and its beautiful beach was flooded by thousands of tourists. To control this mass of visitors, the local government adopted several measures. Firstly, the site was closed from 2018 to 2022 to restore the ecosystem damaged by rampant tourism. A minipier was built for boats to dock, swimming was prohibited on the beach and there is a fee of 400 baht (R$55) per visitor. I was there in 2012 and now this year, the differences are noticeable and everything is much more organized and clean. The place is cleaner, there are rangers, visits are more controlled, etc. The measures adopted will certainly help to preserve this natural wonder.
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What do you think of these measures adopted? Do you believe that tourism should be controlled? Are you already in a city with high taxes? Tell us below.
