OVERTOURISM
Barcelona trip on mind? Be prepared to pay higher tourism tax
Barcelona plans to increase its tourist tax to €4 per night from the current €3.25 starting October 2024, aiming to generate €20 million more annually, reports Schengen Visa News. The tax varies by accommodation type: €1.70 for four-star hotels, €2.25 for Airbnb rentals, and €3.50 for luxury hotels. Cruise passengers staying less than 12 hours pay €3, while longer stays incur a €2 fee.
Venice made $1 mn from the implementation of €5 Tourist Tax in April
Venice has responded to concerns about over-tourism by introducing a ticketing system for day visitors since last month. Reports indicate that nearly one million euros were collected within the first 11 days of implementing the tax. From April 25 to May 5, approximately 195,000 tickets were sold, generating €975,000, though this amount falls short of covering the expenses incurred in setting up the system. After the trial period, the daily fee is expected to increase to €10, with fines ranging from €50 to €300 for those without tickets.
Japan says you'll need to make prior bookings to hike to Mt Fuji, pay a fee
Japanese authorities have introduced an online booking system for Mount Fuji's Yoshida Trail to manage overtourism and address safety and environmental concerns amid a surge in summer visitors. The system will limit daily entries to 4,000 hikers at $13 each, ensuring access and planning for the iconic volcano's ascent.
A Japanese town is blocking Mt Fuji view from 'badly-behaved' tourists
A small Japanese town, Fujikawaguchiko, is constructing a barrier to block the view of Mount Fuji due to complaints about tourist misbehavior. Visitors have caused issues like littering and unsafe crossing. While some welcome the safety measure, others lament the loss of the iconic view. The barrier aims to maintain order amidst growing overtourism challenges.
Why pay for Venice? See the Taj for free
Venice's new visitor toll aims to control 'over-tourism', causing discontent among residents. The city's Disneyland comparison and residents feeling like museum pieces post-ticket purchase lead to calls to eliminate entry fees at heritage sites like the Taj Mahal.
Venice begins charging tourists entry fee €5 as it looks to find ‘new balance’
Venice has launched a pilot program to charge day-trippers a 5-euro entry fee to manage overtourism. The initiative aims to discourage visitors on peak days and preserve the city for its residents. Despite protests and skepticism among locals, officials hope the fee will provide valuable data to manage tourism better. The fee applies during peak hours, with exemptions for residents and workers.
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Milan is the latest European city to fight overtourism; may ban ice cream, pizzas post midnight
Milan tackles overtourism with late-night activity restrictions, while European cities like Venice and Amsterdam adopt measures such as tourist taxes, time slot systems, and new hotel development constraints to manage overwhelming tourist numbers.
After Venice, this popular Italian destination plans to charge a tourist fee
Como, inspired by Venice's move, is considering imposing a tourist fee to tackle overtourism. Mayor Rapinese mentioned discussions about this measure, signaling a proactive stance. Lake Como's popularity, drawing over a million tourists annually, prompts concerns for local residents. Venice has already announced a similar fee, effective from April 25, aiming to regulate visitor numbers during peak times.
'Go home': Anti-tourism movement gains momentum in Spain
Anti-tourism movements are multiplying in Spain, the world's second most visited country, prompting authorities to try and reconcile the interests of locals and the lucrative sector. - 'Go home' - Similar anti-tourism movements have sprung up elsewhere in Spain and are active on social media.
Venice will limit tourist groups to 25 people starting in June
This announcement follows the city's previous disclosure of plans to trial a new day-tripper fee this year. Set at 5 euros ($5.45) per person, the fee will be applicable on 29 peak days between April and mid-July, primarily during weekends. The objective is to regulate crowds, encourage longer visits, and ultimately enhance the overall quality of life for Venice residents.
This Spanish city is the latest to take a drastic step to curb overtourism
San Sebastian is not the first place in Europe to adopt similar actions. Spain's Palma de Mallorca outlawed Airbnb rentals in 2018. In 2023, Seville placed limitations on stag and hen parties, and Florence, Italy, announced a ban on new Airbnb rentals. Numerous other cities throughout the continent are also implementing measures to control tourism.
Using social media for your holiday 'inspo' can be risky and even dangerous - here's why
Australia, with its breathtaking natural wonders, is no stranger to the downsides of social media tourism. Many people have been injured, needed rescue or even perished when visiting trendy places.
Why Tokyo's Shibuya Mayor urges reconsideration of Halloween plans: A Look at the Itaewon tragedy
Ken Hasebe, the mayor of Tokyo's Shibuya district, expressed his strong recommendation for individuals planning to celebrate Halloween in the area around October 31st to rethink their plans.
These European countries are imposing fines and restrictions amid tourist overcrowding
Several Schengen countries are taking various measures to address the social issues arising from over-tourism. Italy has introduced entrance fees, Venice now requires tourists to pay an entrance fee ranging from €3 to €10. Greece is implementing a time-slot system to limit daily visits and charge entry fees. Amsterdam has banned cruise ships from entering its main ports.
This European country has hit 'red line' with tourist crowd
The Belgian city of Bruges is struggling with excessive summer tourism, with eight million visitors each year, most on day trips. Locals say tourism is important but needs to be balanced to prevent turning the city into a theme park. Other historical canal cities such as Venice and Amsterdam have already taken steps to narrow the number of visitors and ban cruise ships from calling.
Going to Europe this summer? You're not alone.
Sicily isn't the only European destination bustling with tourists ahead of the peak summer season in July and August. After three years of pandemic restrictions, travelers are flocking to Europe in record numbers, despite high airfares, limited accommodations, sweltering heat and crowded sites.
How privacy concerns are leading to the rise of anti-geotagging on social media
With growing privacy concerns, the trend of geotagging pictures on social media has declined over the past few years. According to a survey by PwC, 47% of users are extremely concerned about the privacy of their personal data when engaging with social media platforms. Content creators and social media marketing professionals report that while almost nine out of 10 people would add a location in their posts before the Covid-19 pandemic, only three to five do so now. Celebrities, in particular, tend to share posts with their location only after they have left.
Incredible and incredibly experiential India: Lessons to adapt to an evolving travel ethos
As the world emerges from the pandemic and the travel bug is revived - perhaps with greater fervour owing to modern social media discourse - the world stands at an opportune crossroads with the chance to make tourism more resilient and inclusive than before. This strategy may also be the only way forward.
As travel booms again, should India worry about over-tourism and find a balance between livelihoods and local concerns?
The dilemma faced by popular destinations like Ladakh, Spiti and Goa is an echo of global tourism hotspots such as Venice and Barcelona: more tourists mean more revenue post-pandemic, but at what cost to the local population and the region itself should that be?
A Venetian lesson for Incredible !ndia
The number of pilgrims has grown exponentially from 12,000-30,000 in the 1980s to nearly 3 lakh last year. Bumper-to-bumper traffic making their way to Shimla, Mussoorie and Nainital are now commonplace. A sizeable section of India's upwardly mobile classes are putting inordinate pressure on these towns and surrounding areas. Not to mention the proliferation of hotels and guest houses to accommodate these tourists happens in an unplanned manner, many flouting norms.
Airbnb overhauls site searches with categories of rentals
Airbnb said the changes will help people find listings that they didn't know existed before and in locations that they had not considered, taking pressure off overtourism in popular destinations. CEO Brian Chesky called it the biggest change to the company's site in a decade.
Flooding in Venice worsens off-season amid climate change
Venice's unique topography, built on log piles among canals, has made it particularly vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels are increasing the frequency of high tides that inundate the 1,600-year-old Italian lagoon city, which is also gradually sinking.
From Australia's bleached corals to over-tourism in Venice, the World Heritage sites are in danger
Several spots risk losing their UN World Heritage status because of environmental damage.
Australia hits out at threatened UN downgrade of Great Barrier Reef
The UN body released a draft report on Monday recommending the reef's World Heritage status be downgraded because of its dramatic coral decline, after years of public threats to do so.
Most Indians feel polluted beaches, excess tourism top factors affecting sustainability
The Sustainable Travel Trends Survey, which was conducted among 18,327 travellers worldwide including 1,020 from India, has been rolled out to mark the World Environment Day on June 5.
Social media influencers learn to live with Covid: Positivity, quality content can go a long way
Posts around travel are also slowly picking up.
From Amsterdam To Venice, Cities That Are Fighting Over-Tourism With Restrictions & Curbs
With 1.2 billion people travelling worldwide annually, over-tourism is a real fear. And several cities have started hitting back with curbs.
Rome, Goa, Shimla Fall Prey To 'Overtourism'; Here's Where To Go Instead
Inbound tourism to Japan has been surging and Kyoto, the ancient capital, has been one of its worst sufferers. Local residents are put off not just by numbers but also by tourists’ behaviour — such as harassing geishas or wearing shoes in tatami rooms. The Response Residents of some districts have signed a memorandum demanding tourists mind their manners. They have established a “scenery preservation” committee. The government last year launched its first survey on overtourism. Alternatives Kanzawa, near the coast, which is known as “Little Kyoto”. *Sources: The Telegraph, NatGeo, Conde Nast Traveller, Washington Post, Skift, South China Morning Post.
From Cambrdige Bay to Marble Caves: This monsoon take the road less-travelled by
Scan the globe and pick less-frequented routes to enjoy an authentic experience.
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