In April 2024, Venice made headlines as the first city in the world to impose a €5 entry fee for day visitors. As Italy’s most visited destination, inbound arrivals reached 4.9 million in 2023, dwarfing the resident population of 49,000, according to Statista
“Overtourism has been threatening the ‘Floating City’ for decades, but it’s become a challenge in other sought-after destinations during the post-COVID tourism recovery surge,” says Sue Garrett, General Manager Supply, Pricing & Marketing for Flight Centre South Africa.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that the number of worldwide tourists, which peaked at 1.5 billion in 2019, will reach 1.8 billion by 2030 – likely leading to increased pressure on highly desirable travel spots.
“Major cities and sites across the globe rely on the income tourism brings and are still keen for arrivals, but local governments and tourism boards are increasingly stepping in to futureproof their local landmarks, communities, environments, and infrastructure,” says Garrett.
Whether it’s visitor restrictions, tourist taxes, or even temporary closures, Garrett stresses the importance of staying informed of the latest overtourism measures implemented in popular destinations.
Cruise limits
The cruise industry will see new restrictions in 2025, such as docking regulations, ship size limits and daily cruise passenger caps. Some of these changes include:
- Nice, France: From 1 July 2025, cruise ships carrying more than 900 passengers (dubbed ‘floating hotels’), will be prohibited
- Belfast, Maine: As of 2025, vessels carrying more than 50 passengers will no longer be allowed to dock
- Iceland: A new per-passenger, per-day fee has been introduced, with officials anticipating 80 fewer cruise ship visits in 2025
- Amsterdam: In 2026, the number of sea cruises will be reduced from 190 to 100, with the main cruise terminal to be relocated outside the city
In response to restrictions, Garrett predicts a rise in small-ship cruises, like those operated by Oceania and Silversea and Ponant – as well as large cruise lines promoting new, unique and lesser-known ports and itineraries.
Landmarks limiting numbers
Overtourism has prompted local governments and tourism custodians to take it upon themselves to establish some form of crowd control. This has resulted in various restriction policies with time-slot systems, and even temporary closures of popular attractions. Some of these include:
- Venice, Italy: Day visitors will need to pay a €5–€10 entry fee to curb overcrowding
- Pompeii, Italy: With more than four million visitors in 2024, Pompeii will introduce a 20,000-visitor cap in 2025
- Trevi Fountain, Rome: During the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year, a reservation system will limit access to 400 visitors at a time
- Mount Fuji, Japan: Due to a surge in numbers, daily visitors during the peak season will be capped at 4,000 with a ¥2,000 ($20) entry fee
- Cliffs of Moher, Ireland: Select trails will be closed for increased safety and environmental preservation
“Overcrowding is a major issue affecting both local residents and tourists whose travel experience is compromised,” Garrett explains. “Limiting daily numbers of visitors is not a new concept, particularly across Europe, but we’re guaranteed to witness an increase in these policies to break the overtourism cycle.”
Destinations implementing ‘tourist tax’
In 2025, popular destinations are introducing new or raising existing visitor fees to regulate tourist flows and receive additional funds for infrastructure maintenance and development. Here are several be aware of before planning your 2025 travel:
- Venice, Italy: To manage visitor flow Venice will expand its tourist tax programme increasing the cost to visit the city from €5 to €10
- Thailand: A travel tax has been proposed for mid-2025. If approved, the fee is estimated to be around £6.87 for those arriving by plane
- Greece: To enhance infrastructure and promote sustainable tourism, visitors will pay a tax of €8 per day during peak season
- Azores, Portugal: As of 2025, a fee of €2 per person per night will be introduced
- Paris, France: Both a regional tax and a tourist tax will be applicable in 2025 based on the type of accommodation
- Maldives: The nation’s ‘Green Tax’ will increase to $12 per day in 2025
While the allure of famed destinations is strong, Garrett emphasises that travellers need to know which destinations they will be charged additional fees for and how much they’ll need to pay.
“Although destinations are taking action against overtourism, there’s a certain level of responsibility that lies with travellers to rethink how and where they explore, and with travel suppliers in terms of how they guide them,” she adds.
What can you (the traveller) do?
- To help preserve the world’s most beautiful destinations, consider embracing slow travel – spend more time in fewer places (it allows you to slow down and relax and it benefits local communities)
- Adopt a ‘this-not-that’ mindset. Seek alternative destinations experiencing undertourism to ease pressure on overcrowded hotspots
- When visiting popular locations, travel during the shoulder season to avoid peak crowds and higher fees
For Garrett, mindful travel choices make a difference: “According to Murmuration, which tracks tourism’s environmental impact, 80% of travellers visit 10% of destinations. By exploring beyond the usual landmarks and being intentional with our travel, we can help safeguard these places for future generations.”
