New fees and protests rise against global overtourism impact

Dubrovnik, Amsterdam, Bali, and Venice are some of the places implementing new fees and restrictions for tourists. Dubrovnik has limited the number of cruise ships and reduced the number of café tables and souvenir stalls. In Amsterdam and Bali, the construction of new hotels has been halted, and in Venice, entry fees have been introduced, which recently increased from €5 to €10 (approximately £4.2 to £8.4) per day.

In numerous cities, such as Paris, Greece, and the Czech Republic, new regulations regarding short-term rentals have been introduced. In New York, rental rules have also been tightened. Local authorities are trying to control the number of tourists and protect local communities from the negative impacts of mass tourism.

The authorities of many locations have raised tourist fees. For instance, in Santorini and Mykonos, the fee per cruise passenger has increased by about €20 (£16.7). In New Zealand, a tax of approximately NZD 100 (£45.5) has been introduced. On the Galapagos Islands, the tourist fee has increased to roughly $200 (£161).

Since last year, climbers of the famous Japanese mountain, Fuji, have faced new fees. Authorities charge an equivalent of about £10.5 for entry. These measures aim to balance tourism revenues with the protection of local resources.

In some cities resistance to the phenomenon known as overtourism is taking dramatic forms. Crowds are also a problem for residents of places like the Canary Islands and Barcelona. In July, a march under the slogan "Enough is enough" was held in the Catalan capital. Protesters wrapped some restaurants with tape and sprayed tourists with water pistols.

Residents of London, on the other hand, started posting positive reviews about average places to confuse artificial intelligence suggesting places worth visiting to tourists. As a result, they redirect tourists and influencers there.