In 2026, nine countries introduced official visitor caps and new tourism fees aimed at regulating overtourism and preserving cultural, natural, and community assets. These measures reflect a global shift from prioritizing unlimited visitor growth to balancing economic benefits with the protection of local ecosystems and heritage sites.
Japan’s Tourism Growth and Redistribution Strategy
Japan recorded 42.68 million international visitors in 2025, marking a 15.8% increase from the previous year, and continues to target 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. To mitigate overcrowding in popular cities like Kyoto, the Japan Tourism Agency is promoting travel to lesser-visited prefectures including Tottori, Kochi, and Akita. Kyoto has implemented local
measures such as restricting tourist access to certain machiya alleyways and piloting paid photography zones to protect historic neighborhoods. Additionally, local levies are applied in congested areas to manage tourist impact while maintaining growth objectives.
Spain’s Housing-Driven Tourist Apartment License Removal
Spain has announced that all tourist apartment licenses in Barcelona will be removed by 2028 in response to a housing crisis that affects local residents. This policy targets thousands of short-term rental units and represents the most comprehensive urban tourism restriction implemented in Europe to date. Additional concerns over housing availability and infrastructure strain have been raised by residents in Mallorca, Ibiza, and the Canary
Islands, reflecting a wider prioritization of living conditions over short-term tourist accommodations.
Greece and Venice Manage Visitor Flows Through Caps and Fees
The Greek Ministry of Tourism is coordinating cruise ship arrivals to Santorini to prevent overcrowding, with caps on simultaneous passenger disembarkations currently under review. These measures are designed to protect Santorini’s natural landscape and its small-scale local economy from the pressure of rapid tourist influxes. In Venice, the city administration introduced an entry fee targeting day visitors during peak periods as a crowd-control tool. Rather than functioning as a revenue source, the fee aims to moderate spontaneous visits and preserve Venice’s historic infrastructure and canal ecosystem.
Bali and Peru Implement Tourist Levies and Strict Access Control
Bali implemented
a tourist levy for all international visitors starting February 2024. The Bali Tourism Board directs revenue from the levy to fund cultural preservation and environmental protection programs. The board is also developing carrying capacity guidelines for ecologically sensitive areas to potentially limit visitor numbers in the future. Peru enforces the most detailed system, with the Peruvian Ministry of Culture managing daily capacity limits, mandatory ticket reservations, and predefined visitor circuits at Machu Picchu. Visitors must use timed entry windows and follow designated routes to protect the archaeological site from erosion.
Iceland, France and Amsterdam Introduce Infrastructure Charges and Restrictions
Iceland imposes infrastructure charges that fund environmental protection, particularly for
glacial terrains. France promotes geographic dispersal of tourists to reduce the heavy concentration around the Louvre museum in Paris. Amsterdam has restricted short-term rentals by limiting permitted periods annually and is developing plans to reduce pressure from river cruises. These policies contribute to more balanced tourism flows and easing infrastructure and community pressures.
Impact on Travelers and Global Governance Shift
Travelers now face advance planning requirements due to visitor caps and mandatory booking systems. New fees and levies have been introduced for entry or site access, reducing opportunities for spontaneous visits to iconic destinations. These measures have resulted in shorter queues and better-preserved sites, with enforced local
restrictions such as photography zones in Kyoto and timed entries at Machu Picchu. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has endorsed carrying capacity frameworks as the best practice for managing tourism at heritage sites, supporting countries’ efforts to integrate preservation with sustainable visitor management.
