Tourism is booming, but some destinations are changing the rules because visitor numbers are putting pressure on local life.
1. Venice — Paying to Enter
Venice has continued expanding its day-tripper entry fee in 2026.
Visitors arriving without an overnight stay on selected busy days need to register and pay, with the charge reaching €10 for late bookings. City officials are considering even higher fees as they try to manage overcrowding.
2. Barcelona — Fewer Tourists, More Local Space
Barcelona is taking a harder line on tourism, with officials working to reduce the impact of nearly 16 million annual visitors.
The city is also moving toward eliminating tourist apartments by 2028, while officials are examining ways to return heavily visited spaces to residents.
3. Kyoto — Tourists Are Being Asked to Change Their Behaviour
Kyoto has expanded visitor guidance around crowded areas and sensitive cultural sites.
The issue isn’t simply numbers. A 2026 study found long-term residents reporting emotional strain, disrupted daily life, and a weakening connection to places they once considered their own.
4. Arches National Park — Planning Ahead
Some American national parks are experimenting with timed entry to prevent roads and attractions from becoming overwhelmed.
A 2026 analysis of Arches National Park found the timed-entry period coincided with a 16.3% increase in tourism jobs compared with the pre-system period, suggesting visitor controls don’t necessarily mean less economic activity.
5. Marseille — Visitors Are Spilling Into Local Neighbourhoods
Marseille has become a major tourism success story, attracting nearly 7 million visitors in a year.
But the surge has also brought overcrowding and resident protests, prompting authorities to introduce measures including visitor limits in some natural areas.
6. East Asia — Travelers Are Being Pushed Beyond the Famous Cities
The response isn’t always a ban or a fee.
Hotel groups are increasingly expanding into smaller cities and rural destinations as the biggest tourism hubs become overcrowded, giving travelers more alternatives while spreading tourism revenue beyond the usual hotspots.