Is a trip to Europe the next thing on your bucket list, Well you may come across some unpleasant surprises on your way. Let us tell you about some such incidents happening with tourists across the continent.
Recently, Barcelona, witnessed thousands of locals taking to the streets, chanting “Tourists go home,” with some even resorting to spraying the tourists. Post-pandemic travel has overwhelmed these places, leading to a significant surge in tourist numbers. As locals protest, authorities worldwide implement new bans, fines, and strict guidelines to regulate tourist behavior.
If you are a selfie addict then let us tell you that the Central European country Austria has set up fences to deter selfies. Last year, Hallstatt, the Austrian town fixed a wooden fence on one of its streets to prevent tourists from crowding to take selfies.
Meanwhile, the Neapolitan pizza may also not appeal to you much because Italy is taking various measures to manage overtourism. In April, Venice implemented a €5 entry fee for visitors during peak hours from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Starting in October, Florence will ban short-term rentals in its historic center. The town of Capri temporarily barred tourists due to a water shortage. Rome has also imposed fines starting at €250 for sitting on the Spanish Steps.
The beautiful cherry blossoms will only be a treat to the eyes for you but not for your loved ones because Japan is putting up screens to prevent crowds from taking pictures. Last month, a crowd-control gate was installed halfway up the mountain, and another town is building a fence to block selfie-seekers. A daily visitor cap of 4,000 has also been introduced. In Kyoto, tourists are banned from specific private streets in the Gion district due to incidents of misbehavior with the Japanese artists
And if you love bus hopping and boat parties then let us tell you that the Canary Islands has recently removed certain bus routes from online maps to reduce tourist overcrowding. The Islands are also expanding restrictions on street drinking and party boats.
This may dull your excitement but the reality is the rise in global tourism has brought about significant challenges for many popular destinations, leading to a backlash from locals and stringent measures from authorities. As communities struggle to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the preservation of their way of life, it is clear that sustainable tourism practices are essential.
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