In Venice, authorities introduced a symbolic €5 entrance fee to limit tourist numbers, but the measure backfired, sparking further protests from locals who say the city is being transformed into a theme park.
Cities have fought overtourism with fines, fees and bans, with varying degrees of success. | Jaime Reyna/Getty Images
Others are making even bigger bets: Barcelona's mayor announced in June that he would end short-term apartment rentals to tourists by 2028 to avert the worst of Europe's spiraling housing shortage. Over the past decade, the Canary Islands have approved similar measures, along with cities including Berlin and Lisbon.
According to Calvão, a successful tourism strategy must focus on balancing economic, social and environmental impacts, and take into account the level of demand and the carrying capacity of a destination (in terms of city size, infrastructure and resources).
Culvaon cited Amsterdam as an example of a city that can successfully control tourism.
The city, which has a reputation as the party capital of Europe, has banned marijuana smoking in its entertainment district, launched a no-go campaign aimed at young, promiscuous British men who come just to party, and recently announced a ban on the construction of new hotels.
In contrast to other destinations that have clamped down on tourists, some cities have opted for a more open approach. Copenhagen is offering perks to encourage climate-friendly tourist behavior. People who bike, use public transport or pick up trash around the city could earn rewards ranging from a free coffee to free museum admission.
“The strategy must combine three aspects: data on movements, governance that actively listens to the voice of the population, and thirdly, a mix of policies,” Calvaon said.
