Overtourism has become one of travel’s most pressing issues, with destinations worldwide struggling to balance economic benefits against local quality of life. From Venice’s canals to Mount Fuji’s trails, iconic locations are implementing strict new measures to manage visitor flows and protect both communities and environments. These aren’t just temporary fixes either – many countries are fundamentally restructuring how tourism works, creating lasting changes that will reshape travel patterns for years to come.
Spain: Leading the Charge Against Mass Tourism
Spain has emerged as ground zero for the overtourism backlash, with cities like Barcelona and Valencia implementing some of the world’s strictest tourist controls. Barcelona announced plans to eliminate all tourist rentals by 2028, while Valencia’s inspections of tourist apartments increased by 454 per cent this year alone, with the closure of 278 illegal residences already ordered. June 2025 saw coordinated protests in Barcelona, Ibiza, Palma and other Spanish cities where thousands voiced their displeasure at rising costs of rent and low wages.
Valencia has taken particularly aggressive steps, announcing plans to cut off electricity and water for illegal tourist accommodation in the city. The Balearic Islands have also joined the crackdown, with Spanish group Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) calling on members to “regroup” and “redouble” their efforts against tourism’s impact on island residents.
Italy: UNESCO Sites Under Protection
Venice made global headlines in April 2024 as the first city to impose a €5 entry fee for day visitors, with plans to expand the tourist tax to €5-€10 in 2026. Pompeii, which received more than four million visitors in 2024, is implementing visitor management measures. Venice has also implemented restrictions on cruise ship access to the historic center, while Cinque Terre now caps daily walkers on the Via dell’Amore to just 400 people.
Rome has implemented strict behavioral rules, preventing tourists from going topless, eating ‘messy’ food around attractions like the Trevi Fountain, and attaching love padlocks to bridges. The Italian government’s approach reflects a comprehensive strategy to protect cultural heritage while managing tourism’s social and environmental impacts.
Netherlands: Amsterdam’s Comprehensive Tourism Overhaul
Amsterdam plans to limit cruise ships in its harbor to just 100 in 2026, down from 190 currently, before banning them outright by 2035 as part of measures to “counteract nuisance”. The city will restrict boats to shore power only by 2027 and is looking to cut the number of river cruises in its waters. Starting in 2026, river cruise operators will receive annual reduction quotas, while ocean cruise ships will be limited to just 100 per year starting in 2026.
Last year’s “Stay Away” campaign was part of Amsterdam’s efforts to discourage travelers from bringing their “nuisance,” as Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki described it. The city is also limiting new hotel construction and increasing taxes on overnight stays as part of its comprehensive approach to managing overtourism.
Greece: Balancing Tourism Revenue with Sustainability
Despite overtourism concerns and forest fires requiring evacuations, 2026 is set to be a record year for Greece with tourism revenue potentially reaching €22 billion. This creates a complex challenge for policymakers trying to balance economic benefits with environmental and social sustainability.
Japan: Mount Fuji’s Revolutionary Visitor Management
Mount Fuji now requires climbers to pay 2,000 yen ($12.40) per person, with a daily maximum of 4,000 climbers per day on the popular Yoshida Trail. Authorities increased the fee to 4,000 yen ($27) for the 2025 climbing season and maintained the 4,000 daily climber limit. Night climbing is prohibited, with the Yoshida Trail closed from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily.
Shizuoka Prefecture is implementing additional safety measures, requiring climbers to attend a safety course and pass a test to ensure awareness of risks and responsible hiking practices. The measures have shown results, with around 178,000 climbers this summer compared to more than 200,000 the previous year.
France: Strategic Tourism Regulation
Paris is tackling the housing crisis by regulating short-term rentals, with the “Loi le Meur” law introduced in 2025 reducing maximum rental periods from 120 nights to 90 nights in certain areas. Cannes will limit cruise ships to vessels carrying fewer than 1,000 passengers starting January 1, 2026, with a daily cap of 6,000 passengers disembarking. Nice has implemented restrictions limiting ships carrying more than 900 passengers by 2025.
France, as the world’s most visited country, has introduced measures focusing on sustainable tourism, better visitor management, and protection of cultural heritage. The approach demonstrates how even tourism-dependent economies are prioritizing long-term sustainability over short-term revenue gains.
Croatia and Cyprus: Island Nation Responses
Croatia has joined European nations in implementing tourism management strategies, particularly focusing on protecting its Adriatic coastline and historic cities like Dubrovnik. The country has been working on distributing tourist flows more evenly across different regions and seasons to reduce pressure on the most popular destinations.
Cyprus is developing comprehensive policies to manage tourist numbers while preserving its Mediterranean appeal. The island nation is balancing its economic dependence on tourism with the need to protect natural resources and maintain the quality of life for residents. Both countries are following the broader European trend toward sustainable tourism management.
Latin American Countries: Regional Coordination Against Platform Disruption
Cuba has joined Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico in cracking down on Airbnb as a response to travel disruption caused by the rapid growth of short-term rental platforms, with new regulations and shutdowns planned for 2026. Between March 2024 and March 2025, Canadian tourists increased their Airbnb bookings in Mexico by 27%, signaling a potential decline in traditional hotel stays in cities like Mexico City, Cancún, and Los Cabos.
Buenos Aires witnessed a dramatic drop in hotel occupancy rates, falling by 16.2% in the first half of 2024, while the Cuyo region saw a 22.6% decline in October 2024. These Latin American countries are reshaping tourism policies to balance visitor needs with local community interests and traditional hospitality sector protection.
Iceland and Other Nordic Responses
Iceland introduced a new per-passenger, per-day fee, with officials anticipating 80 fewer cruise ship visits in 2026. This Nordic approach reflects growing concerns about environmental impact in fragile ecosystems.
The pattern emerging across these nations demonstrates a fundamental shift in tourism policy. Countries are no longer accepting unlimited growth at any cost, instead prioritize sustainable visitor management that protects both natural environments and local communities. These measures represent the beginning of a new era in global travel, where destinations actively shape visitor experiences rather than simply accommodating endless demand.
What do you think about these sweeping changes to global tourism? Will they create better travel experiences or make exploring the world more challenging for future generations?