European tourist hotspots like Amsterdam and Venice are implementing new measures to address the overwhelming influx of visitors.
In Venice, a city renowned as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, the contrast between its resident population of just 50,000 and the 3.2 million overnight visitors in the historic center in 2022 is striking. To manage this surge, the city is initiating a policy on Thursday to charge day trippers for entry. These visitors will be required to purchase a five-euro ($5.3) ticket, with inspectors conducting spot checks at various points throughout the UNESCO world heritage site.
Furthermore, Venice took action in 2021 by prohibiting large cruise ships from entering the Venice lagoon due to concerns about their environmental impact on the city. Additionally, a tax for overnight visitors has been implemented to address the challenges posed by tourism.
Amsterdam has been actively addressing its reputation for rowdy stag parties, drug use, and excessive partying, which some attribute to the influx of approximately 20 million visitors annually.
In 2023, the city initiated an online campaign targeting young British men, urging them to avoid traveling to Amsterdam for drug and alcohol-related activities. The Dutch message was straightforward: “stay away” or face potential arrest.
In a move to manage tourism growth, Amsterdam recently announced a ban on new hotel construction. Additionally, within the next five years, the city plans to reduce the number of river cruise ships by half. Furthermore, Amsterdam took steps in the previous year to prohibit cannabis smoking in the streets of the red-light district. These measures aim to address the challenges associated with tourism and preserve the city’s cultural integrity.
Dubrovnik, Croatia’s medieval walled city, has become one of Europe’s most densely populated destinations, with tourist crowds often rendering strolls within the historic Old Town nearly impossible. This picturesque gem of the Adriatic experienced a significant surge in visitor numbers following the filming of scenes from the popular series “Game of Thrones” on its ancient ramparts in 2011.
In 2023, despite hosting 1.2 million tourists in a town with a population of 41,000, Dubrovnik’s figures fell slightly below the record set in 2019, which reached 1.4 million visitors. To manage the inflow, local authorities implemented measures such as limiting cruise ship arrivals to two per day, with no more than 4,000 passengers permitted at a time.
Additionally, in response to the challenges posed by overtourism, authorities introduced an innovative solution in the form of a mobile app. Utilizing machine learning and weather forecasts, the app predicts peak times of congestion within the Old Town, a UNESCO world heritage site. These efforts aim to strike a balance between preserving Dubrovnik’s cultural heritage and accommodating the desires of visitors.
Barcelona, situated along the Mediterranean coast, stands as the capital of Catalonia, renowned for its iconic Gaudi architectural wonders and the prestigious football club FC Barcelona. Under the leadership of Ada Colau, a former housing rights activist serving as mayor from 2015 until June 2023, the city took decisive actions to address issues such as illegal Airbnb rentals, which were deemed responsible for exacerbating housing affordability challenges for locals.
Furthermore, Barcelona implemented measures to manage tourist activities, including restrictions on tour group entries to the historic La Boqueria market, particularly during peak hours of shopping.
Additionally, regulations were introduced to limit organized groups in the city center to a maximum of 20 individuals, with guides prohibited from using loudspeakers.
As a result of these initiatives, tourist numbers registered in hotels, private residences, and hostels experienced a decline of 6.9 percent in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019, as reported by the City Council.
These efforts reflect Barcelona’s commitment to striking a balance between preserving its cultural heritage and ensuring the well-being of its residents amidst tourism pressures.
