Europe imposes restrictions due to excessive tourism: here's what cities are doing

American tourists traveling to Europe will need to obtain an online travel authorization. For now, this function, which must be obtained through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), has been postponed until 2025.

This category includes travelers from non-EU countries, tourists from the United States, and from nearly 30 European countries. The application would have brought 7 euros to the budget for each tourist, Fortune writes.

Now, citizens of states that previously entered the Schengen area based on a visa-free regime must have an ETIAS permit to enter European countries.

What restrictive measures on the entry of tourists are already in place

Amsterdam

In 2024, Amsterdam is introducing some changes to its tourism policy, including an increase in tourist tax from 7% to 12.5%. In January, the city will also ban buses weighing more than 7.5 tons from entering the city center. The tax for cruise ship passengers is being increased from 8 to 14 euros per person.

The opening of new bed and breakfast hotels in central areas is also prohibited to solve the housing problem. These steps are aimed at managing the flow of tourists and mitigating the impact of tourism on the city.

Paris

The Paris tourist tax will increase by 200% in 2024 as part of the financing of public transport upgrades, France24 reports. With the 2024 Olympics taking place from July 26 to August 11, hotel prices in Paris have already risen, and the tax increase will make it even more expensive to stay. However, France is taking a positive approach to combating excessive tourism.

Instead of restrictions, the country plans to expand tourist routes, according to Olivia Gregoire, Minister Delegate for Tourism. France intends to draw attention to lesser-known areas by engaging social media influencers to direct tourists to unique places, such as French eco-lodges or glamping sites.

Venice

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice continues to face the problem of over-tourism, even after the ban on large cruise ships in 2021. To mitigate the pressure of daily visitors, the city is testing a new access tax for overnight tourists, which is €5 per day from 8:30 to 16:00. This tax will be tested for twenty days in May, June, and July 2024 with the hope of making changes in 2025.

In addition to the new tax, Venice will limit the number of tourist walking groups to 25 people and ban the use of loudspeakers to reduce disturbance. These measures are likely to come into effect on June 1, in parallel with the Detourism campaign aimed at promoting lesser-known places in the city to visitors.

Venice is also considering applying similar restrictions on the number of short-term rental properties as in Rome and Florence, in line with national initiatives in Italy. In June 2023, the Italian Ministry of Tourism presented a bill aimed at regulating the rental of tourist facilities across the country, including online platforms such as Airbnb.

Athens

From the beginning of September 2023, the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, will receive no more than 20,000 visitors per day, as opposed to the previous average of 23,000 visitors. The pilot program will run until April 1, 2024.

Similar daily visitation restrictions have already been introduced in many European attractions. For example, the Louvre in Paris, France, Calanques National Park in Marseille, France, Villa de Balbianello in Lake Como, Italy, and the Old Town in Dubrovnik, Croatia, have taken similar measures in recent years.

Portugal

Portugal is actively considering measures against cruise lines that do not comply with the established requirements.

At the end of December 2023, Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas announced the introduction of a new tourist tax of 2 euros per cruise ship passenger, similar to that paid by hotel guests. The new fees will take effect from January 1, 2024.

He also noted that the proceeds from this tax will be used to improve the city's condition, create green areas, and develop a strategy for the future development of Lisbon.

If cruise operators fail to comply with the established requirements, further measures may be taken, including restrictions on the mobility of their buses. This is in line with Turismo de Portugal's 2024 strategy, which emphasizes sustainability and authenticity, including eco-friendly travel and the use of TikTok to draw attention to Portugal's diverse regions.

Dublin

Despite the popularity of some European cities, it is worth paying attention to alternative destinations with the same amazing experiences, but without the crowds. These places provide unique opportunities for enjoyment without the problems associated with moderate tourism queues and are actively attracting tourists in 2024.

In December 2023, Dublin Airport applied to increase its annual passenger limit to 40 million, indicating its commitment to attracting more visitors to the Emerald Isle.