I hope your favorite is not one of them. Read on.
Too many tourists!
Tourism is huge. In recent years, the number of travelers has increased exponentially across the globe, and many cities and attractions are completely overrun by tourists. But when locals begin to suffer the consequences of mass tourism, it’s time to reduce their numbers. This is exactly what many governments are doing.
From tourist taxes to bans and restrictions, in this gallery, you’ll get to know how popular destinations are fighting overtourism.
Prague
In 2024, city officials introduced a new rule prohibiting late-night pub crawls in response to complaints from locals. This measure will only apply to tours organized by agencies, leaving independent groups free to plan their own outings. Over the past two decades, mainly fueled by the growth of budget airlines, Prague has emerged as a favored destination for bachelor and bachelorette celebrations, particularly among visitors from the UK.
Bali
Indonesia is among the countries grappling with overtourism, and in 2024, a moratorium on the construction of hotels, villas, and nightclubs was implemented in parts of Bali. A senior ministry official stated that this measure is part of the government’s efforts to reform tourism, improve quality, create jobs, and preserve the island’s indigenous culture. Currently, over 200,000 foreigners reside in Bali, contributing to issues like crime, overdevelopment, and job competition. Bali also plans to ban tourists from renting motorbikes.
Amsterdam
n 2023, Amsterdam launched an ad campaign discouraging rowdy tourists from visiting the Dutch city. Limits were also imposed on bar crawls as well as a ban on smoking cannabis in the famous red-light district. Visitors can also expect to pay a tourist tax too, which in 2024 was 12.5% of an overnight rate.
Croatia
Carrying wheeled luggage through the streets of Dubrovnik city center is not allowed. In an attempt to stop the noise in the old city’s cobbled streets, tourists must leave their luggage in lockers. (OK. That one does seem a bit odd).
Japan
Japan’s most famous natural wonder, Mount Fuji, attracts over 300,000 climbers every year. To help fight overtourism, hikers are required to obtain a US$27 permit for its four main routes—the Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya trails. Additionally, they must pass a test demonstrating their understanding of important safety information and local customs.
And in May 2024, authorities in the resort town built a barrier at a popular viewpoint: the Lawson convenience store. The location offers breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, but locals complain that tourists overcrowd the pavements, litter, and ignore traffic regulations. Three months later, city officials took the net down temporarily due to strong winds in the area, leaving police officers to patrol the block, but said the measurement was effective in driving tourists away.
In March 2024, tourists were banned from entering the Geisha district in Kyoto due to “out of control behavior.”
Starting in 2025, visitors to Ginzan Onsen after 5 pm must purchase a ticket, and those without hotel bookings will be banned after 8 pm.
Machu Picchu
The 5th-century Inca citadel is Peru’s top attraction. To avoid overcrowding, tourists can only enter during one of two time slots throughout the day. In addition, a maximum of 10 people is allowed per tourist guide.
The number of visitors per day is also capped. As of 2024, the maximum allowed is 4,500 people per day. However, on some special days, up to 5,600 daily visitors may be allowed.
Venice
In 2025, Venice implemented a day-tripper entry fee that is twice as high as in 2024. Visitors making last-minute plans now pay €10 (US$10.30) instead of the previous €5 (US$5.15). Additionally, the fee applies on nearly twice as many days as last year. This measure aims to regulate tourist flow and discourage day-tripper visits during peak periods.
Rome
Italy is one of the most-visited countries in Europe. As such, measures to control crowds have been imposed in major cities, including the capital, Rome. For example, in 2023 a €5 (US$5.36) fee was introduced to those visiting the Pantheon.
Athens
The number of visitors is capped at the city’s historical Acropolis. The maximum allowed per day is 20,000, all in prebooked designated hour slots. In 2024, this new booking system was also implemented at other attractions across the country.
Barcelona
Barcelona has been struggling with overtourism for many years. In 2022 the Catalan capital limited the size of tour groups and introduced noise restrictions. New hotels in the city center have also been restricted and so have short-term room rentals. The city also closed its northern port terminal to cruises and introduced a “city surcharge,” which increased in 2024 to €3.25 (US$3.48).
More recently, the route of bus number 116 was removed from map apps. The bus route was used by many tourists to visit Park Güell, one of Barcelona’s main attractions. This obviously had an impact on resident’s lives, who welcomed the measure.
Santorini
Picturesque Santorini is one of the most iconic Greek islands. Every year, around two million people visit the island and in 2019 some measures were taken to control overtourism. One measure was to limit cruise passengers visiting the island to 8,000 a day.
And another one, perhaps the most bizarre, was that overweight tourists (anyone over 100 kg/220 lbs) were banned from riding donkeys. (Really?)
France
From the French Riviera to Paris, the European nation is one of the most visited in the world. As a result, numerous measures have been taken over the years to control overtourism. For instance, since 2022, the Louvre in Paris has limited entries to 30,000 visitors per day.
The government announced the launch of a €1 million campaign in 2024 to encourage tourists (both domestic and foreign) “to adapt their destination choices and schedules.” The idea is to promote “year-round” and off-the-beaten-track tourism.
Portugal
The European nation has implemented a number of measures to keep tourism under control, including tourist taxes. Other measures include bans and restrictions such as playing loud music at the beach, which is punished with fines.
Cornwall
When one thinks about tourist spots in the UK, London usually comes to mind, but it turns out, Cornwall is suffering from overcrowding too. In response, a registration scheme for short-term vacation lets was proposed by Cornwall Council, and so was a tourist tax.
The Amalfi Coast is probably Italy’s most visited stretch of coastline. To curb mass tourism authorities introduced an alternate license plate system. This means that rental cars with number plates ending in an odd number can drive through it on one day, while cars with number plates ending in an even number can only circulate on the following day.
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