Europe Tightens Rules to Deal With Excess Influx of Tourists This Summer

MADRID, June 26, 2025 — As natural beauty and iconic landmarks attract thousands of holidaymakers to Europe this summer, many countries in the European Union have tightened rules concerning tourists. 

While conservationists and nature lovers welcome tourists traveling to the European Union, there is a common consensus, that no tourist destination should record an influx of visitors, which is beyond its carrying capacity. 

A pivotal question that arises is whether tourism is possible without overcrowding popular destinations. From Italy to Spain, countries are resorting to an iron fist policy to decongest their tourist hot-spots. 

Before touching on the administrative measure being taken to tackle overcrowding of tourist hubs, let’s take a look at some statistics mentioned below. 

Tourism Influx Data and Reservations 

Tourist arrivals in 2024 and 2025 have seen record numbers across Europe but residents in many popular cities are voicing their concerns about housing shortages, environmental strain, increased waste, water shortages, and pollution. 

Besides, locals are also worried about economic imbalance, claiming that tourism benefits a few at the cost of everyday life. Groups like the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourist Degrowth (ABDT) are now pitching for reforms that prioritize daily requirements and a healthy lifestyle of residents over dividends reaped through tourism.

In the first quarter of 2025, Europe saw a two percent increase in international tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2024. International tourist arrivals in Europe crossed 747 million in 2024, five percent more than 2023 and one percent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. 

In early 2025, numbers rose another 4.9 percent compared to the same period last year, according to UN Tourism.

Residents Hit Streets 

Last year, protests against uncontrolled tourism spread across Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. This summer, cities like Barcelona, Venice, and Lisbon witnessed similar demonstrations.

Media reports suggest that in Barcelona, locals splashed water on tourists and carried signs reading “tourists go home”. In Lisbon, an effigy of the city’s patron saint was marched to a luxury hotel site, reports said. In Genoa, demonstrators rolled empty suitcases in the streets during a “noisy stroll.” In Majorca, residents disrupted tourist buses with flares and banners, various news agencies have reported. 

Regulatory Tightening 

Amid widespread protests, Europe has reigned in new rules and restrictions. Spain ordered Airbnb to remove 66,000 illegal rentals. Barcelona is set to phase out all 10,000 short-term rentals by 2028.

Tourist taxes have been increased and cruise passengers will have to pay 200 percent more. Barcelona has also launched a smart tourism platform to monitor overcrowding.

In Greece, beginning July 2025, cruise passengers will pay almost $20 fee. Acropolis is capped at 20,000 visitors per day with timed slots.

In Italy, Venice reintroduced a €5–€10 entry fee for day tourists in peak season. It has banned loudspeakers, capped tour group size at 25, and banned canal swimming.

France saw Louvre staff staging strikes, demanding better crowd control and cultural preservation. Croatia has brought in a measure that would see fines of up to €150 in Split for walking in swimwear.

In Hvar, public drinking can lead to a €600 penalty. Dubrovnik limited cruise ships, reduced taxis, and cut back on café seating.

In the Netherlands, Amsterdam exceeded its limit of 20 million overnight stays in 2023. It introduced higher tourist taxes and a “Stay Away” campaign warning misbehaving visitors.

In terms of tightening of visa rejections and travel tightening, in 2024, Schengen countries rejected nearly 1.7 million visa applications, a rejection rate of 14.8 per cent. 

Soft Measures to Deal Overcrowding 

Contrary to the tough measures taken by countries to keep a check on overtourism, Eugenio Van Maanen, researcher at the Breda University of Applied Sciences and leader of the European “Tourism in Balance” project, raises a valid point with regard to managing tourists.  

“How do we encourage them to discover alternative destinations, which are less crowded but which offer equally fascinating experiences?” Euro News quoted Maanen as having said. 

The key takeaway of deliberations between the Breda University of Applied Sciences with other stakeholders is that “if we can divert the flow of tourists from the most overcrowded areas to less visited places, the whole community would benefit.”

As per Euro News, Metropolitan Agency of Brașov has launched one of the region’s flagship initiatives to redistribute tourism “the Gastro Local Programme.” 

Under the aegis of this initiative, local residents of rural areas, such as the village of Vama Buzăului, located near the Valea Zimbrilor nature reserve, open their homes to offer home-cooked meals to visitors for a fixed price of 16 euros.

A public backlash alleging uncontrolled tourism of its ill effects has seen protestors gather in many European cities, who at several places had to be dispersed by police force.

Inputs from Saqib Malik

Editing by David Ryder