From hefty taxes to restricted access and even curfews, popular holiday destinations are taking drastic measures to manage over-tourism. With more changes set for 2025, planning your next getaway requires a bit more research than usual.
To help you not get caught off guard or even locked out of your resort, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the latest tourist regulations across the globe as per new data compiled from luxury airport transfers company VIP Santorini
Destinations with tourist taxes
Cities and countries are implementing tourist taxes to offset the impact of large crowds and fund sustainable tourism initiatives. Here are a few examples:
Barcelona (Spain): Five-star hotel guests in Barcelona now face a tourist tax of €6.75 per night, adding a significant chunk to your weekly bill.
Venice (Italy): Day-trippers in Venice are now subject to a €5 fee, discouraging short-term visits and promoting longer stays.
Santorini & Mykonos (Greece): Cruise ship passengers visiting these idyllic Greek islands during peak season will be hit with a €20 levy.
Kyoto (Japan): Be prepared for a lodging tax increase, with rates potentially reaching 10,000 yen (£52) per night.
Bhutan (The Himalayas): This exclusive destination maintains its commitment to low-impact tourism with a daily entrance fee of US$100, a slight decrease from the previous $200.
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador): Protecting this unique ecosystem comes at a cost. Tourists now pay an entry tax of $200 (£155), or $100 (£78) for visitors from neighbouring countries.
Bali (Indonesia): To curb unruly behaviour, Bali has introduced a $10 (£7.70) tourist tax, accompanied by a handbook on acceptable conduct.
Denied access? Restricted zones and limited entry
From ancient wonders to bustling city centres, many destinations are implementing restricted access to manage crowds and protect fragile environments.
Santorini & Mykonos (Greece): In an effort to preserve the Cycladic Islands, Greece is limiting the number of cruise ships allowed to dock.
Machu Picchu (Peru): Visiting this iconic Incan citadel requires careful planning. A strict ticketing system with designated time slots prevents overcrowding.
Ibiza (Spain): Partygoers take note! New regulations limit the number of cruise ships docking simultaneously to just two.
Amsterdam (Netherlands): The Dutch capital is taking a multi-pronged approach to combat over-tourism, with plans to limit river cruises, ban new hotels, and cap overnight stays.
Menorca (Spain): Residents of the charming village of Binibeca Vell have taken matters into their own hands, restricting tourist access to certain hours to reduce noise and disruption.
Barcelona (Spain): In addition to the tourist tax, Barcelona is reducing cruise ship dockings and altering bus routes to popular attractions like Parc Güell.
Seoul (South Korea): The historic Bukchon Hanok Village will introduce a curfew in March 2025, limiting tourist access during nighttime hours.
Athens (Greece): The iconic Acropolis now has a daily visitor cap and requires time slot bookings to manage footfall.
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Oh! Behave yourself: tourist behaviour regulations
It’s not just about where you go, it’s how you act when you get there. Destinations are cracking down on unruly behaviour with fines and regulations to ensure respectful tourism.
Amsterdam (Netherlands): Authorities are actively discouraging rowdy stag parties and pub crawls, even launching a warning video campaign.
Sardinia (Italy): Taking a piece of the famous pink sands from Spiaggia Rosa will cost you dearly, with fines ranging from €500 (£428) to €3,500 (£2,993).
Dubrovnik (Croatia): Dubrovnik has implemented fines for inappropriate attire, unauthorised driving, and eating near monuments.
Prague (Czechia): Say goodbye to outrageous stag and hen do costumes. Prague is banning these and cracking down on nighttime pub crawls.
Portofino (Italy): Selfie-obsessed travellers, be warned! Causing congestion with your photo sessions in Portofino could result in a hefty fine.
Rome (Italy): Rome is tackling various tourist behaviours, from shirtless men to “love padlocks” on bridges and snacking near historical landmarks.
Eco-conscious measures
Protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices are key concerns for many destinations.
Capri (Italy): To safeguard its stunning coastline from boat damage, Capri is installing a protective barrier offshore.
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador): Strict regulations govern tourism in the Galapagos, requiring guided visits to protected areas and prohibiting private yachts at certain sites.
Okinawa (Japan): Visitor numbers to Iriomote Island are capped to protect endangered species and prevent overtourism.
Ko Phi Phi Leh (Thailand): Swimming is banned in Maya Bay to allow for coral and marine life recovery, with visitor numbers and boat access also restricted.
How are holiday rentals impacted?
Beyond specific restrictions, many destinations are implementing broader strategies to manage tourism and its impact on local communities.
Cornwall (England): To address over-tourism and housing issues, Cornwall is considering mandatory registration for holiday lets.
Malaga (Spain): This popular Spanish city is restricting holiday rental registrations in certain districts.
Florence (Italy): In an effort to preserve affordable housing, Florence has banned Airbnb and short-term rentals in its historic centre.
Yorkshire Dales (England): Protecting the character of its villages, the Yorkshire Dales has banned the construction of new second homes and holiday lets.
Marseille (France): To regulate holiday rentals, Marseille has banned key safes outside properties.
Penang (Malaysia): Short-term rentals are strictly regulated in Penang, requiring registration fees and approval from residents.
Tourist taxes
| Destination | Country | Method |
| Barcelona | Spain | Barcelona’s tourist tax for five-star hotel guests increased to €6.75 per night, totalling €47.25 per week. |
| Venice | Italy | Venice has introduced a €5 day-trip tax to dissuade short-term tourists from overloading the city. |
| Santorini & Mykonos | Greece | The government announced a €20 levy for cruise ship visitors to Greece’s islands during peak summer. |
| Kyoto | Japan | Lodging tax for hotels will increase to a maximum of 10,000 yen (£52), ten times the current 1,000 yen cap. |
| Bhutan | The Himalayas | Visitors pay the world’s priciest entrance fee of US$100 daily to promote low-impact tourism, down from $200 in 2023. |
| Galapagos Islands | Ecuador | Tourists to the archipelago must now pay an entry tax of $200 (£155) for international visitors and $100 (£78) for those from neighbouring countries. |
| Bali | Indonesia | Bali has introduced a $10 (£7.70) tourist tax to deter unruly visitors, with travellers required to pay the levy and potentially receive a handbook on acceptable behaviour. |
| Seville | Spain | Seville plans to charge holidaymakers for Plaza de España entry to combat overtourism, with details still unclear. |
| Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans are set to introduce a 5% tourist tax on accommodation from 2026, aiming to raise £50 million annually. |
Restricted access or zones
| Destination | Country | Method |
| Santorini & Mykonos | Greece | Greece plans to limit cruise ships to combat overtourism and reduce the impact on the Cycladic Islands. |
| Machu Picchu | Peru | Visitors face a strict ticketing system to arrive within designated time slots to prevent overcrowding. |
| Ibiza | Spain | Authorities have introduced new regulations limiting the simultaneous docking of cruise ships to no more than two at a time. |
| Amsterdam | Netherlands | There are plans to limit river cruises, ban new hotels, reduce visitors by 271,000 annually, and cap overnight stays at 20 million. |
| Menorca | Spain | Homeowners in Binibeca Vell have blocked access to private properties and asked tourists to visit only between 11am and 8pm to reduce noise. |
| Barcelona | Spain | The city cut cruise dockings to seven and removed the 116 bus route to Parc Güell to curb peak-season tourism. |
| Seoul | South Korea | Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village will introduce a curfew in March, limiting tourist access from 5pm to 10am. |
| Athens | Greece | The Greek Acropolis capped visitors at 20,000 in September 2023 and introduced time slot bookings to reduce footfall. |
| Hallstatt | Austria | Measures were taken to discourage tourists by building wooden fences that block lakeside views. |
| Trentino Alto Adige | Italy | Overnight guests are capped at 2019 levels to tackle overtourism, with pre-registration for attractions like Alpe di Siusi. |
| French Polynesia | Annual tourist numbers are planned to be capped at 280,000, with local cruise lines taking priority over international cruise ships. | |
Tourist behaviour regulations
| Destination | Country | Method |
| Amsterdam | Netherlands | Authorities have urged Brits to “stay away” due to antisocial behaviour during stag parties and pub crawls, with a warning video triggered by related search terms. |
| Sardinia | Italy | Tourists invading the pink sands of Spiaggia Rosa face fines ranging from €500 (£428) to €3,500 (£2,993). |
| Dubrovnik | Croatia | Visitors may face fines or charges for wearing swimwear, driving without permission, eating near monuments, or climbing city walls. |
| Prague | Czechia | City councillors have decided to ban outrageous stag and hen group costumes, as well as nighttime pub crawls. |
| Portofino | Italy | Tourists taking selfies in popular spots could face a €275 (£242) fine for causing congestion, with “no waiting” zones to prevent blockages. |
| Rome | Italy | Rome is cracking down on bans for shirtless men, “love padlocks” on bridges, and snacking near attractions like the Trevi Fountain. |
Sustainability-focused measures
| Destination | Country | Method |
| Capri | Italy | Capri plans to install a 40-buoy barrier 100m offshore to protect its coastline from boat damage. |
| Galapagos Islands | Ecuador | Tourism is regulated with rules like walking on marked trails, guided visits to protected areas, and no private yachts at key natural sites. |
| Okinawa | Japan | To protect endangered species and combat overtourism, visitor numbers to Iriomote Island are capped at 1,200 per day. |
| Ko Phi Phi Leh | Thailand | Swimming in Maya Bay is banned to protect coral and reef sharks, with visitors limited to one-hour stays and motorboats prohibited. |
General planning and management
| Destination | Country | Method |
| Cornwall | England | Cornish holiday lets may need registration to tackle overtourism and housing issues, with a £160m government crackdown on rentals. |
| Malaga | Spain | Malaga has set plans to prohibit holiday rental registrations across 43 districts. |
| Florence | Italy | Florence banned Airbnb and short-term rentals in its centre to address the depletion of affordable housing. |
| Yorkshire Dales | England | Bans on the construction of second homes and holiday properties in villages have been introduced to curb tourism, allowing only permanent residents. |
| Marseille | France | Marseille banned key safes outside holiday lets, with agents authorised to remove them if hosts ignore warnings. |
| Penang | Malaysia | Short-term rentals like Airbnb are banned, allowing only commercial properties with resident approval and registration fees. |
Book responsibly
Addressing the restrictions, George Alexandrou, CEO of VIP Santorini said, “As overtourism becomes an increasing concern, travellers must be more conscious of their impact this summer. With destinations like Greece and Spain tightening access to popular sites, it’s clear that the need for sustainable tourism practices is growing.
Alexandrou suggests for those yet to book their holidays to book responsibly. “Rather than simply flocking to hotspots, holidaymakers should prioritise responsible choices, such as booking with destinations and companies that support environmental and cultural preservation,” he says. “Thoughtful planning will not only help protect these areas for future generations but also enhance the travel experience by embracing less-crowded, authentic locations.”
It will be wise before you book your next trip, to do your research. Perhaps even consider less-crowded, authentic locations to support responsible tourism and avoid the crowds.