- Overwhelming numbers of travelers flocking to vacation spots?
In a bid to address the growing issue of overtourism and its effects on local communities, European countries are taking various measures to regulate short-term rentals, limit tourist flows, and promote sustainable tourism strategies.
One of the key countries leading this change is Spain, particularly Barcelona, which plans to phase out holiday rental licenses by the end of 2028. This move aims to safeguard housing for residents and address the overcrowding that has become a common sight in many popular tourist destinations. Barcelona is also considering significantly increasing the overnight tax, up to 15 euros per night.
Spain's neighbour, France, has taken a similar approach. Paris, famous for its romantic streets and iconic landmarks, tightly controls Airbnb listings, has expanded pedestrian zones, and launched anti-touristification campaigns to protect neighbourhood authenticity. The French government's long-term sustainable tourism plan, "Destination France Plan," invests heavily in greener travel modes, spreading tourists to mid-sized cities and regions beyond major hotspots. New laws cap holiday rentals and limit rental nights, with fines for violations.
Italy, home to Rome and Venice, two cities grappling with overtourism, enforces fines for poor tourist behaviour, imposes public conduct rules, and closes some squares at night to reduce overcrowding. Venice, in particular, faces similar concerns and is part of broader Italian efforts to mitigate the impact of mass tourism.
Portugal's capital, Lisbon, restricts tourist accommodation growth, limits short-term rentals, promotes alternative tourist routes, and addresses noise and transport pressures exacerbated by digital nomads. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic regulates hotel expansion, controls nightlife disturbances, and aims to change its tourism image to reduce gentrification and displacement of locals.
Other destinations, such as Hallstatt, Austria, and Mallorca, Spain, are also taking steps to manage the influx of visitors. In Hallstatt, measures have been taken to limit the number of tourist buses and introduce a minimum stay for bus groups. In Mallorca, activists have placed fake signs warning of jellyfish, rockfall, or swimming bans to deter tourists from beaches.
Europe's most beautiful places, including Greece's hotspots like Santorini and Mykonos, are seeing a surge in cruise tourists during peak season. To manage this, Greece is enforcing controls more strictly and punishing violations. An entrance fee of 20 euros is now required in Greece's hotspots, with the money going towards infrastructure.
In Scandinavia, tourist hotspots like Copenhagen and Norway's west coast fjords are being overwhelmed by visitors, with small towns visited by cruise ships often exceeding the local population. Locals complain about tourists' disregard for rules, such as ignoring safety barriers for the perfect Instagram shot.
These measures reflect a growing recognition across Europe that overtourism threatens local communities' social fabric, housing, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability, prompting governments to act through regulation, planning, and sustainable tourism promotion. The continent is focusing on pedestrian zones, cultural behaviour enforcement, and diversifying visitor experiences away from saturated hotspots. Some countries impose tourist taxes or caps to manage volumes, while others promote off-season tourism and domestic travelers are increasingly avoiding peak season due to overcrowding.
In conclusion, Europe is taking significant steps to address overtourism and its effects on local communities. From tightening regulations on short-term rentals to implementing entrance fees and cultural behaviour enforcement, these measures aim to protect the authenticity and sustainability of European destinations for future generations.
- To mitigate overtourism's impact, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and other European countries limit short-term rentals, implement tourist taxes, and encourage sustainable tourism strategies.
- As a response to overcrowding in popular tourist destinations, European countries like Spain, France, and Italy enforce fines for poor tourist behavior, restrict tourist accommodation growth, and promote alternative tourist routes.
