As the 2025 travel season unfolds, those planning a European holiday are encountering a range of new regulations. From tourist taxes and accommodation restrictions to outright bans in some areas, it has become increasingly clear that European cities are taking action against overtourism. Travelers are now expected to comply with additional requirements, making the simple act of booking a holiday more complex.

For tourists, these new measures could mean paying higher fees at accommodations, securing permits before visiting certain destinations, and even facing new restrictions on popular attractions. With European tourism policies shifting, the global travel industry is watching closely to see how these changes will affect visitor numbers and spending patterns.

Spain’s New Approach to Managing Tourists

Many have questioned whether Spain is moving toward banning tourists entirely. While this isn’t the case, new regulations have been introduced to control visitor numbers in highly populated destinations such as Mallorca, Tenerife, and Barcelona.

Rather than an outright ban, Spain’s policies are designed to limit overcrowding and better regulate short-term rentals. Tourists staying in Airbnb-style properties should be aware that flats registered after February 2024 without separate entrances are now ineligible for tourist licenses, meaning fewer rental options will be available.

Additionally, several Spanish cities are placing limits on short-term rentals:

  • Malaga has prohibited short-term lets in 43 neighborhoods
  • Barcelona plans to phase out tourist apartment rentals by 2028
  • Alicante and Madrid have imposed new rental restrictions

Aside from accommodation limitations, tourists renting cars or staying in hotels may need to provide additional information, including nationality, address, phone number, and email, as part of Spain’s new tourism monitoring policies.

Tourist Restrictions Extend Beyond Spain

Across Europe, various cities and attractions are introducing limits on visitor numbers to control overtourism.

  • Cruise passengers will find their stops more regulated. Destinations such as Ibiza and Barcelona have introduced docking restrictions to reduce the number of ships arriving each day.
  • Major attractions like the Acropolis in Athens now enforce a daily cap of 20,000 visitors, requiring advanced reservations.
  • Pompeii will restrict visitors to 20,000 per day due to excessive tourism pressure in 2024.
  • Rome’s Colosseum has a limit of 3,000 visitors at a time, requiring better planning for those wishing to visit.
  • Venice has extended its day-tripper tax—charging visitors €5 to €10 per entry, depending on when they book.

Meanwhile, some areas are completely off-limits to visitors. Sardinia’s Spiaggia Rosa Beach, known for its pink sands, has been closed since 1998, but increased enforcement now sees trespassers fined between €500 and €3,500.

New Tourist Taxes Add to Travel Costs

Beyond visitor restrictions, multiple destinations across Europe are introducing or increasing tourist taxes. Travelers can now expect daily charges on accommodations or even entry fees in some locations.

Greece

  • Visitors must pay €8 per day, adding up to €56 per adult for a one-week stay.
  • A Climate Resilience Tax applies to all accommodations, ranging from €1.50 to €10 per night, depending on hotel classification.
  • Off-season discounts apply, with the tourist tax dropping to €2 per day from November to March.
  • Cruise passengers heading to Mykonos or Santorini will be charged €20, while other island stops will incur a €5 fee.

Portugal

  • Tourist taxes vary by municipality, with at least 26 locations implementing charges.
  • Lisbon and Madeira charge €2 per person per night.
  • The Azores began charging €2 per night in January 2025.

Spain

  • Barcelona now charges two separate taxes—a city tax of €4 per person per night and a regional tourist tax.
  • Cruise passengers staying more than 12 hours must pay an additional €6.25.
  • The Balearic Islands impose a “green tax” ranging from €1 to €4 per night, depending on accommodation type.
  • Gran Canaria has introduced its first-ever municipal tourist tax of €0.15 per night.

Italy

  • Major cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence enforce a tourist tax ranging from €1 to €7 per night, based on accommodation type.
  • The Italian government is considering an additional €25 tourist tax for luxury hotels, though no final decision has been made.
  • Venice now requires day-trippers to pre-book their visit and pay a €5 fee, increasing to €10 if booked last-minute.

Elsewhere in Europe

  • Paris has introduced two new tourist taxes, totaling €1.95 to €15.60 per night, depending on accommodation type.
  • Amsterdam raised its tourist tax from 7% to 12.5% of hotel costs, adding €21.80 per night for a €175 hotel stay.
  • Edinburgh and London are considering implementing new tourist taxes, though they have not yet been finalized.

New Travel Authorization Rules for 2025

Beyond taxes and restrictions, travelers to the UK and EU now face new travel authorization requirements.

For Visitors to the UK

  • As of April 2, 2025, EU travelers will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entering the UK.
  • The ETA initially costs €11.82, but a price increase to €18.91 has been proposed.
  • The ETA remains valid for two years, so travelers planning future UK visits may wish to apply early.

For Visitors to the EU

  • The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to launch in mid-2025.
  • Once implemented, British travelers must apply for ETIAS to enter the Schengen Area, at an estimated cost of €7.
  • The Entry/Exit System (EES), which tracks non-EU arrivals and departures, will launch six months before ETIAS.

Global Impact: How These Changes Affect Travelers and the Tourism Industry

As European destinations tighten regulations, the global travel industry faces a shift in how tourists plan their holidays.

  • Higher travel costs due to tax increases may deter budget-conscious tourists.
  • More advance planning is required as visitor caps and booking systems are enforced at key attractions.
  • The short-term rental market shrinks, forcing travelers to book earlier or opt for traditional hotels.
  • Cruise tourism sees restrictions, potentially altering itineraries for major cruise operators.

With Europe cracking down on mass tourism, other regions may follow suit, prompting long-term changes in global travel patterns. While some tourists will adjust to the new requirements, others may opt for alternative destinations with fewer restrictions.

As 2025 unfolds, travelers should stay informed about changing rules and costs, ensuring they are prepared for a more regulated European tourism experience.

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