Overtourism: the rules and laws put in place

Every summer, conversations become increasingly frequent and vocal about the number of tourists in certain places. Moreover, some sites are simply not suited to such an influx. Locals are therefore looking for solutions to limit overtourism.

Every city, region, or country has its own method, but what are these solutions actually like around the world and in France? Yes, France is also affected by overtourism.

And there you are asking yourself:
● Which places have implemented real rules to regulate tourism?
● Which cities, regions or countries have already found solutions?
● and what does that change for you, hoteliers and restaurateurs?

First, here is an overview by region of the world:

🌍 Europe

● Venice (Italy)Daily access ticket for day-trip visitors. An entrance tax aimed at limiting the number of tourists and preserving heritage.

● Amsterdam (Netherlands)Tourist tax among the highest in Europe; restrictions on cruises and hotels.

● Barcelona / Catalonia (Spain) — Municipal surcharge and regional tax to finance the regulation of tourism, particularly in five-star hotels.

● Santorini & Greek sites — Cruise Limits et slots on iconic sites like the Acropolis of Athens.

● Dubrovnik (Croatia) — Limiting stopovers and flows with the “Respect the City” program.

● Hallstatt (Austria) — Quotas and restrictions on tourist buses to reduce tourist pressure.

● Iceland — Accommodation tax reintroduced in 2024 (hotels, campsites, cruises).

🌏 Asia-Pacific

● Mount Fuji – Yamanashi (Japan) — Entrance fee, gate and daily ceiling to secure the ascent.

● Kyoto (Japan) — Local restrictions (eg Gion district) and accommodation tax for more sustainable tourism.

● Bali (Indonesia) — Fixed tourist tax of IDR 150 to protect culture and nature.

● Bhutan — Sustainable Development Fee (100 USD/night) to limit flows and finance conservation.

● Thailand (e.g. Maya Bay, Phi Phi Islands) — Seasonal closures and quotas to regenerate the sites.

🌎 Americas & Oceania

● Machu Picchu (Peru) — Daily ceiling and time slots on tickets.

● Quintana Roo – Cancún / Riviera Maya (Mexico) — VISITAX mandatory for foreign visitors.

● Banff National Park – Moraine Lake (Canada) — Ban on private cars ; access only by shuttle.

● New Zealand — IVL (International Visitor Levy) reinforced; projects of access fees to key sites.

France

🏝️ Islands and natural sites

● Bréhat Island (Brittany) — Limitation to 4 visitors per day since 2023, excluding residents and workers.

● Chausey Islands (Normandy) — Restricted access to 2 people per day since 2024 to protect the ecosystem.

● Porquerolles Island (Var) — Ceiling of 6 visitors per day in high season since 2021.

● Virgin Island Beach (Crozon Peninsula, Brittany) — Temporary closure in 2020 due to overcrowding.

● Calanques National Park (Marseille) - The Sugiton cove limited to 400 people per day in summer since 2022, often by reservation.

● Mont-Blanc — Quota of 214 climbers per day since 2019 to limit the ecological impact.

● Allos Lake — Reduced parking from 180 to 120 seats and paying, increasing attendance from 44 visitors in 000 to 26 in 000.

🏙️ Cities and towns

● Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) — Regulation of major tourist sites from 2024 to avoid saturation.

● Paris (Île-de-France) — Restrictions on seasonal rentals to limit the impact on housing and prices.

● Mont-Saint-Michel (Manche) — Smart parking pricing: more expensive during peak hours, free after 18:30 p.m. in low and mid-season.

🏞️ Committed regions

● Ardèche — First place in the GreenGo 2024 ranking with 94/100 for tourism eco-responsibility.

● Gers — The Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports local businesses in the ecological transition and sustainable tourism.

🏛️ National initiatives

● Destination France Plan — Financial support for SME tourism projects, with a budget of 5 million euros.

● National strategy for managing tourist flows — Atout France is dedicating 1,5 billion euros to 15–30 pilot territories to develop local regulation strategies.

So, have you ever visited any of these sites and noticed these rules in place?

At Medialog, we are here to support you during periods of high tourist traffic. A Robust PMS and easy to use by the whole team, even for an extra one evening, can make all the difference!

sources:

Hotelvak Nederland. (2025, February 24). Time for a fair and predictable tourist tax. Hotelvak. https://hotelvak.eu/en/industry/koninklijke-horeca-nederland/time-for-a-fair-and-predictable-tourist-tax

Rick Steves Travel Forum. (2025, July 29). Is Dubrovnik enforcing cruise ship limits (hours/# ships)? https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/croatia/is-dubrovnik-enforcing-cruise-ship-limits-hours-ships

National Park Service. (2025). Entrance Reservations – Yosemite National Park. US Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm

Check-in Scan. (2024, August 2). Barcelona tourist tax in force. https://www.checkinscan.com/en/barcelona-tourist-tax

VATCalc.com. (2024, March 13). Iceland accommodation tax reinstated. https://www.vatcalc.com/iceland/iceland-accommodation-tax-reinstated

Skift. (2024, January 5). Iceland brings back tourism taxes for 2024. https://skift.com/2024/01/05/iceland-brings-back-tourism-taxes-for-2024

Reuters. (2024, July 1). Japan imposes new fees on Mount Fuji climbers to limit tourists. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-imposes-new-fees-mount-fuji-climbers-limit-tourists-2024-07-01

Acropolis Athens Tickets. (nd). Acropolis' new rules to curb overtourism. https://www.acropolis-athens-tickets.com/post/acropolis-new-rules-overtourism

Love Bali. (nd). Love Bali: Welcome to Bali, the Island of Gods. https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id

Visit Bhutan. (nd). Sustainable Development Fee. https://www.visitbhutan.com/page.php?id=68

US Department of State. (2025, June 27). Bhutan international travel information. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Bhutan.html

Peruways. (2025, March 19). Machu Picchu entry rules: Visitor limits & time slots. https://peruways.com/it/machu-picchu-entry-rules-visitor-limits-time-slots

Immigration New Zealand. (nd). Fees, decision times and where to apply. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/fees-processing-times-and-refunds/fees-decision-times-and-where-to-apply/

The Economic Times. (2025, August 4). New Zealand to charge foreign tourists up to NZ$40 at key natural sites. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/new-zealand-to-charge-foreign-tourists-up-to-nz40-at-key-natural-sites/articleshow/123090632.cms

Eco-responsible hotel and restaurant

5 Steps to Make Your Hotel Eco-Friendly (and More Profitable)

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few decades, you already know that our planet is experiencing an unprecedented environmental crisis.

And the word eco-responsibility is now everywhere. But what does it actually mean?
According to Larousse, an eco-responsible person or company is one “who seeks to integrate environmental protection measures into its activities, principles, etc.”

In other words, it's more than just a slogan: it's a commitment to take action, to rethink the way we work and to reduce our impact on the environment.

What does this have to do with you, hoteliers and restaurateurs?

You, at your level, can really make the difference for the planet.
But above all: attract more customers and increase your revenue without greenwashing!
Yes, the ecological approach is good for the planet... but also for your turnover.

Concrete example

A group of friends were planning a trip. They live in Paris and want to go to Northern Italy. They can afford any means of transportation: plane, train, or bus.

Here is the typical discussion:

	Plane	Train	Bus
Temps	The fastest	Medium	The longest
Price	Medium	High	The cheapest
Pollution	The worst	Much better	Average

The conversation lasted quite a while… and for a clear reason:
Environmental impact has become an important criterion in customer decision.
And it's not just about transportation, but all aspects of the trip, including hotels and restaurants.

Consumer behavior is changing (and it affects you)

Researchers call this theESCB (Environmentally-Sustainable Consumer Behavior), that's to say :
behaviors that save resources, reduce the ecological impact et improve the quality of life.

Concretely, it looks like this:

Buy organic or local products
Recycle, reuse, save water and energy
Reduce food waste and use public transport

And in the hotel/restaurant industry, it goes even further:

Reuse of towels during the stay
Use of local products
Collection and recycling of soaps (eg. Unisoap)
Eco-responsible catering
Reduction of water and energy consumption

You might be thinking:
“We already do a little of that…”
“It’s not worth it…”
“It’s too complicated…”

Well, here's why you need to get started now:

1. Customers are willing to pay more!

A scientific review (2013–2023) shows that more than 85% of customers are willing to pay a 4 to 6% supplement per night to stay in an eco-friendly hotel.
In figures, this represents approximately 5 € more per night, sometimes up to 8 to 23 € depending on the type of establishment.
A study of 573 customers confirmed a strong correlation between ecological practices, customer satisfaction and willingness to pay a premium rate.

2. It really pays off!

Research shows that the eco-certification increases loyalty, occupancy rate and average price per night, while generating savings on energy and water.
On average, sustainable hotels see a 12% increase in their turnover while reducing their costs.

Numerical summary

Indicator	Result
Willingness to pay more	+4–6% / night (~5 €)
Satisfaction → Premium	Positive correlation
Green certification	+ Occupation, + Loyalty
Ecological practices	+12% average turnover

How to become eco-responsible in 5 simple steps

1. Take stock

Water and electricity consumption
Waste management
Origin of food products
Cleaning products and supplies

(A simple Excel table is enough!)

2. Implement rapid actions

Skip to LED bulbs
Delete the single-use plastic
Install a system of tri and reuse of towels
Propose somefiltered water instead of disposable bottles

3. Make the kitchen more sustainable

Buy now local and seasonal
Add vegetarian or vegan dishes
Reduce food waste (adjusted portions, doggy bag)
Indicate the origin of the products on the map

4. Train your team and involve your customers

Raising staff awareness of eco-friendly actions
Inform your customers (little note in the room, message on the tables)
Highlight your actions on your website and your social networks

5. Obtain a label and communicate

Aim for one recognized label (Ex. Green Key In France)
Create a “Our eco-responsible commitment” page on your site
Mention your actions on Booking, Google, TripAdvisor

How this involves Medialog

At Medialog, our solutions 100% digital allow to:

Reduce paper use thanks to the digitalization of check-ins, invoices and reservations.
Centralize information to avoid unnecessary printing and simplify daily management.
Improve customer experience with clear communication on your eco-responsible commitments directly via your digital channels.

Conclusion

Being eco-responsible isn't just good for the planet:
it is also a powerful marketing argument and total source of additional income.

sources: