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) Day-trip ticket for visitors. An entrance fee aimed at limiting the number of tourists and preserving the 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 — Caps on cruises and time slots at iconic sites like the Acropolis of Athens.
● Dubrovnik (Croatia) — Limitation of 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 (e.g., Gion district) and accommodation tax for more sustainable tourism.
● Bali (Indonesia) — Fixed tourist tax of IDR 150,000 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 sites.
🌎 Americas & Oceania
● Machu Picchu (Peru) — Daily limit and time slots on tickets.
● Quintana Roo – Cancún / Riviera Maya (Mexico) — VISITAX required for foreign visitors.
● Banff – Moraine Lake National Park (Canada) — No private cars allowed ; access only by shuttle.
● New Zealand — IVL (International Visitor Levy) strengthened; plans for access fees to key sites.
France
🏝️ Islands and natural sites
● Bréhat Island (Brittany) — Limited to 4,700 visitors per day since 2023, excluding residents and workers.
● Chausey Islands (Normandy) — Access restricted to 2,000 people per day since 2024 to protect the ecosystem.
● Porquerolles Island (Var) — Ceiling of 6,000 visitors per day in high season since 2021.
● Virgin Island Beach (Crozon Peninsula, Brittany) — Temporarily closed in 2020 due to overcrowding.
● Calanques National Park (Marseille) — 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.
● Lake Allos — Parking reduced from 180 to 120 spaces and paid, reducing visitor numbers from 44,000 in 2020 to 26,000 in 2022.
🏙️ Cities and towns
● Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) — Regulation of major tourist sites since 2024 to avoid saturation.
● Paris (Île-de-France) — Restrictions on seasonal rentals to limit the impact on housing and prices.
● Mont-Saint-Michel (Manche) — Intelligent 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 eco-responsible tourism.
● 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 tourism projects of SMEs, with a budget of 5 million euros.
● National strategy for managing tourist flows — Atout France is allocating 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're here to support you during peak tourist seasons. A robust and user-friendly PMS, accessible to the entire team even for a one-night stand, 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