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‘There are just too many visitors’: How is Bruges tackling overtourism?

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Bruges is combatting tourist overcrowding with an Airbnb crackdown and cruise ship caps.

Another European city is cracking down on short-term holiday rentals in a bid to to curb overtourism.

Bruges in Belgium is a UNESCO World Heritage City treasured for its cobbled streets, quaint canals and medieval buildings.

But its postcard-perfect scenery has left it victim to overtourism. A record of more than 8.3 million people visited Bruges – a city of less than 120,000 residents – in 2023.

Now, locals have had enough.

“People have started indicating that there are just too many visitors,” Bruges Mayor Dirk De fauw told The Brussels Times in August. “If we just let everyone do what they want, things will quickly go wrong.”

As part of the solution, the city has implemented a ban on the construction of new hotels in its historic centre. It has also stopped issuing new holiday home permits across the entire city.

Why is Bruges cracking down on short-term holiday rentals?

Although Bruges’s plans aren’t as extreme as those of Barcelona, which earlier this summer announced a citywide ban on short-term rentals by 2029, they are a step towards controlling overtourism.

It is hoped the new restrictions will help to restore balance between tourists and residents in the beautiful/charming but crowded city.

However, some experts point out that a crackdown on Airbnb-style accommodation won’t solve the city’s day-tripper problem.

“Bruges, much like Venice, is a city closely tied to its harbour, attracting a large number of day-trippers,” says Bart-Jan Leyts, founder and CEO of property ranking platform Otamiser, who grew up in the city.

“These short visits contribute significantly to the phenomenon of overtourism, yet they are not directly connected to the availability of short-term rentals.”

Is Bruges likely to introduce a day-tripper fee?

Speaking with The Brussels Times, De fauw ruled out the possibility of introducing fees or visitor caps in Bruges.

“We cannot and do not want to control access to the city, like Dubrovnik or Venice” – where a day-tripper fee was recently launched to reduce overcrowding – he said.

But attempts have been made to curb the number of day-trippers in the city.

In 2019, limits were placed on cruise ships, with a maximum of two per day now permitted to dock at nearby Zeebrugge, down from five.

Local authorities also pulled adverts for the medieval city at Brussels airport so as not to encourage further visitors.

“The influx of tourists brings economic benefits, but it also places tremendous pressure on the city’s infrastructure and community,” says Leyts.

“By managing tourism in a sustainable way, Bruges can protect its heritage while remaining a vibrant, welcoming destination.”

Although tourist crowds have driven locals out of Bruges’s historic centre, the rest of the city remains relatively unscathed – and authorities plan to keep it this way.

“We want to keep Bruges a city with activities beyond tourism,” De fauw emphasised.

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  • Daniela Daecher

    Daniela Daecher is a twenty-something bookworm and coffee addict with a passion for geeking out over sci fi, tv, movies, and books. In 2013 she completed her BA in English with a specialization in Linguistics. In 2014 she completed her MA in Linguistics, focusing on the relationship between language and communication in written form. She currently lives in Munich, Germany.

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ETIAS: The new visa Brits will need to enter the EU in 2025, what it costs and who gets it free

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Travellers will need to apply online before they’ll be allowed into EU countries.

Travellers, including British tourists post-Brexit, will soon face a new hurdle when visiting Europe.

Although a launch date has yet to be announced, it’s likely the ETIAS will become official in the first half of 2025.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System will require travellers to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee. This authorisation will be linked to the traveller’s passport and will be valid for three years or until the passport expires.

The ETIAS is separate from the new EU Entry/Exit Scheme which will also affect Brits and launches 10th November.

Flora, a Brit and mother of two young children, is among those affected by the changes.

“Traveling with kids is already challenging, and now we have to deal with extra paperwork,” Flora said. She and her partner Alexander, currently on a staycation in the UK, are frustrated by the new requirements that add complexity to travel plans.

“I was a staunch proponent of remaining in the EU, so it’s just another slightly disappointing hurdle that we’re all having to face in our ability just to feel like we can be freely part of Europe. But it’s a reality of what happened with the Brexit vote back in 2016, I suppose.”

What is ETIAS, and who will have to comply?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a new system that non-EU travellers will have to navigate. It is part of the EU’s efforts to improve border security.

Under the new ETIAS rules, travellers from non-EU countries will have to apply before visiting the Schengen Area, which includes most EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Most travellers from outside the EU will need to comply with ETIAS, but there are some exceptions. The fee will be waived for children under 18 and adults over 70, although they will still need to apply for authorisation.

Additionally, there will be a grace period of at least six months when ETIAS is first introduced. This will give travellers time to adjust to the new system, but early application is recommended to avoid any travel disruption.

How will ETIAS affect British travellers?

Rob Staines, an independent travel expert, explained the impact of this change for British tourists, saying it is a reality of post-Brexit travel.

“We were asked to be deemed a third country when we left the European Union and this is extra red tape and extra layers of complexity when it comes to travel,” he said.

“But I think if we look in the grand scheme of things, it’s completely acceptable and understandable that the EU wants to strengthen their borders. But unfortunately, that comes at a cost.”

Despite these new measures, Staines believes it won’t deter British travellers from visiting Europe.

“Over 17 million Brits visited Spain last year. It’s our number one holiday destination. I don’t think this small price to pay and this extra layer of bureaucracy is actually really going to put off people traveling. If anything, it could make people want to travel to the EU more because it’s making it a safer place to go. It’s ensuring that people don’t overstay their welcome and it’s a way for the EU to protect their borders.”

“What the UK’s Labour government is doing at the moment is trying to repair those broken relationships that we have and create a better situation after Brexit,” he added.

“It’s one of those situations that we just do have to keep an eye on, but actually, yes, it’s going to make travel harder. It’s going to make travel slightly more expensive for us as well, but we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”

Author

  • Daniela Daecher

    Daniela Daecher is a twenty-something bookworm and coffee addict with a passion for geeking out over sci fi, tv, movies, and books. In 2013 she completed her BA in English with a specialization in Linguistics. In 2014 she completed her MA in Linguistics, focusing on the relationship between language and communication in written form. She currently lives in Munich, Germany.

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Rome wants to charge tourists to visit the Trevi Fountain – here’s why

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Rome is looking at ways to curb overtourism and a ‘lack of respect’ for one of the most famous bucket list destinations in the city.

Rome could soon launch a ticketing system to enter one of its most iconic sites.

Authorities in the Italian capital say they want to start the scheme at the Trevi Fountain as part of ongoing plans to both reduce crowds and promote “sustainable tourism”.

The 18th-century fountain has long been a ‘must visit’ for tourists to the Eternal City, but it is frequently overcrowded and rife with pickpockets.

“Personally I would be in favour of looking at a new form of access, limited and timed, to the Trevi Fountain,” Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s city councillor responsible for tourism, told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

If enforced, it would act as “a [ticket] reservation system – free for Romans and costing a symbolic one euro for tourists”, Onorato added.

Despite that cost, the city’s authorities say the goal of the charge is not to raise money, but to lessen and control crowds, while stopping them from “eating ice cream or pizza on a monument that deserves the proper respect.”

How likely is it that the Trevi Fountain plan will go ahead?

The fountain is one of the most visited attractions in Italy – and the wider world. That means it is frequently packed full of people who struggle to get a glance of the icon, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi.

While  Onorato is keen to see the ticketing scheme in action, a spokesperson for the municipality told the AFP news agency that the proposal is merely “an initial idea – there is nothing concrete yet”.

“It is a delicate, difficult issue, but sooner or later it must be addressed,” the spokesperson added, “Tourism in Rome, which is reporting record numbers, must be made sustainable for the city and the environment.”

Rome sees on average 35 million visitors each year and that number is set to be higher still in 2025 as the Jubilee, a year-long religious event held in the city and the Vatican, is set to attract millions more.

Where else in Italy charges for entry – or is planning to?

If the Trevi Fountain fee did come into action, it wouldn’t be the first attempt in Italy to control crowds.

Earlier in 2024, Venice trialled a €5 ticket for day visitors arriving during peak periods, with the aim of encouraging people to come at less busy times. The trial had mixed responses from authorities and locals, but is likely to be repeated in 2025’s peak season.

Earlier this week, it was also announced that prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is considering raising Italy’s tourist tax to tackle overcrowding in busy cities, including Rome and Florence.

If that goes ahead, visitors staying in local accommodation overnight will have to pay up €25 (£21) a night per person.

That proposal has been met with anger by some leaders in hospitality, with a number suggesting it will damage the industry and put many people off visiting Italy altogether.

In the same vein, Onorato told the Corriere della Sera that authorities in Rome would ideally like to limit the opening of new Bed And Breakfast accommodation and holiday homes in order to reduce the pressure on the city’s historic centre.

Currently, though, they don’t have the power to do so: “Today we can limit the number of restaurants or fast-food outlets in the historic centre, but we cannot prevent the opening of non-hotel facilities.”

Author

  • Daniela Daecher

    Daniela Daecher is a twenty-something bookworm and coffee addict with a passion for geeking out over sci fi, tv, movies, and books. In 2013 she completed her BA in English with a specialization in Linguistics. In 2014 she completed her MA in Linguistics, focusing on the relationship between language and communication in written form. She currently lives in Munich, Germany.

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New EU travel rules for tourists: What changes in 2025?

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The new rules require travellers to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee.

Starting in 2025, travellers, including British tourists post-Brexit, will face new rules when visiting Europe.

Flora, a Brit and mother of two young children, is among those affected by the changes.

“Traveling with kids is already challenging, and now we have to deal with extra paperwork,” Flora said. She and her partner Alexander, currently on a staycation in the UK, are frustrated by the new requirements that add complexity to travel plans.

“I was a staunch proponent of remaining in the EU, so it’s just another slightly disappointing hurdle that we’re all having to face in our ability just to feel like we can be freely part of Europe. But it’s a reality of what happened with the Brexit vote back in 2016, I suppose.”

What is ETIAS, and who will have to comply?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a new system that non-EU travellers will have to navigate. This requirement is part of the EU’s efforts to enhance security at its borders.

ETIAS requires travellers to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee. This authorisation will be linked to the traveller’s passport and will be valid for three years or until the passport expires.

Under the new ETIAS rules, travellers from non-EU countries will have to apply before visiting the Schengen Area, which includes most EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Most travellers from outside the EU will need to comply with ETIAS, but there are some exceptions. The fee will be waived for children under 18 and adults over 70, although they will still need to apply for authorisation.

Additionally, there will be a grace period of at least six months when ETIAS is first introduced. This will give travellers time to adjust to the new system, but early application is recommended to avoid any travel disruptions.

How will ETIAS affect British travellers?

Rob Staines, an independent travel expert, explained the impact of this change for British tourists, saying it is a reality of post-Brexit travel.

“We were asked to be deemed a third country when we left the European Union and this is extra red tape and extra layers of complexity when it comes to travel,” he said.

“But I think if we look in the grand scheme of things, it’s completely acceptable and understandable that the EU wants to strengthen their borders. But unfortunately, that comes at a cost.”

Despite these new measures, Staines believes it won’t deter British travellers from visiting Europe.

“Over 17 million Brits visited Spain last year. It’s our number one holiday destination. I don’t think this small price to pay and this extra layer of bureaucracy is actually really going to put off people traveling. If anything, it could make people want to travel to the EU more because it’s making it a safer place to go. It’s ensuring that people don’t overstay their welcome and it’s a way for the EU to protect their borders.”

“What the UK’s Labour government is doing at the moment is trying to repair those broken relationships that we have and create a better situation after Brexit,” he added.

“It’s one of those situations that we just do have to keep an eye on, but actually, yes, it’s going to make travel harder. It’s going to make travel slightly more expensive for us as well, but we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”

Author

  • Daniela Daecher

    Daniela Daecher is a twenty-something bookworm and coffee addict with a passion for geeking out over sci fi, tv, movies, and books. In 2013 she completed her BA in English with a specialization in Linguistics. In 2014 she completed her MA in Linguistics, focusing on the relationship between language and communication in written form. She currently lives in Munich, Germany.

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