Why are these popular destinations saying no to tourists?

If you’ve ever lived in a popular tourist city like London or Paris, you’ll know just how much visitors can mess with your day.

Slow-moving tour groups hog the pavements, coaches block your road to work, the mess left behind by partygoers looking for an international night out. The sheer volume of badly behaved visitors can be overwhelming during the height of summer.

Not all tourists are a nuisance and we all know the many benefits they bring to local economies. But with travel opening up, visitors are flocking back and with them the impacts of overtourism. It’s not surprising, then, that the people who live in these famous locations aren’t so keen on their return.

Whether it’s because of long-standing issues or the health risks of an influx of visitors, here are some of the destinations discouraging badly behaved tourists.

Barcelona – No more Airbnb

Before the pandemic, an estimated 30 million people visited Barcelona every year, leaving the city at the heart of the overtourism debate. Local people couldn’t buy homes because they had all been bought for Airbnb rentals.

A temporary ban on renting out accommodation for less than 31 days was introduced in August 2020 and the moratorium has now been extended until the end of next month. It is giving the municipality the chance to put in place a plan that means tourist accommodation will be available, without forcing out locals.

New bus routes are being introduced to try and encourage visitors to spread throughout the city. It is hoped that it will prevent popular areas, such as the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, from being overwhelmed with tourists.

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