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Venice, Tokyo, Strasbourg: Watch out for alcohol bans on New Year’s Eve in these cities

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Cities have also restricted the sale of fireworks and closed off crowded areas.

Venice has introduced a ban on alcohol consumption on New Year’s Eve as a safety measure.

It joins other cities around the world that have trialled crackdowns on carrying or consuming drinks in public places.

The canal city has also restricted the sale of alcohol in shops and bars.

Here’s what travellers need to know about the rules around drinking during end-of-year celebrations.

Venice bans alcohol on New Year’s Eve

Venice has brought in a ban on carrying or consuming drinks in glass containers – both alcoholic and not – in public places over the New Year.

The restriction is in place from 7pm on 31 December to 6am on 1 January.

The sale of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in glass bottles, closed cans, or capped plastic bottles has also been prohibited over the same period. This includes bars and restaurants – even those with outdoor terraces.

People are also forbidden from carrying pepper spray. Those found violating the rules face fines of between €25 and €500.

Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro has cited safety and public order concerns as his reasons for bringing in the ordinance.

Tokyo’s Shibuya district bans alcohol and cancels New Year celebrations

Shibuya and Shinjuku, two of Tokyo’s busiest nightlife districts, introduced restrictions on big gatherings and public drinking over Halloween.

Now, Shibuya has extended the ban on drinking in public places all year round – including over the festive period – from 6pm to 5am.

The crackdown aims to curb rowdy behaviour in the popular party zone.

The district has also announced that its renowned New Year’s Eve celebrations are cancelled.

Since 2020, the iconic countdown at Shibuya’s Scramble Crossing has been suspended over concerns that the crowds – which numbered some 120,000 in 2018 – could become a safety issue.

There will also be temporary barriers erected around the statue of Hachiko – a dog remembered for his loyalty to his owner – from 31 December to 1am on 1 January.

Sales of alcohol in shops have also been suspended temporarily over the New Year.

Strasbourg bans alcohol and introduces curfew for New Year

The French city of Strasbourg has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in public streets from 12pm on 31 December to 12pm on 1 January.

There is also a curfew for those under the age of 16 not accompanied by a ‘parent or representative of parental authority’ between 10pm on 31 December and 6am on 1 January.

Lyon bans alcohol and fireworks on New Year’s Eve

Lyon has also restricted the consumption of alcohol in public streets from 5pm on 31 December to 11am on 1 January.

The sale of alcohol is banned between 8pm on 31 December and 9am on 1 January.

The sale, purchase, possession and transportation of fireworks is prohibited from 6am on 30 December to 6am on 3 January.

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  • 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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Norway to introduce tourist tax amid record visitor numbers and overtourism concerns

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By&nbspEuronews Travel

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Norway is set to become the latest European destination to introduce a tourist tax to combat concerns about rising visitor numbers.

Lawmakers approved the new levy on Thursday, which allows municipalities to introduce a 3 per cent tax on overnight stays in “areas particularly affected by tourism”.

The law allows local authorities to apply the tax at their own discretion, and it will be added to accommodation charges. Authorities will also be allowed to adjust the percentage based on the season.

The funds raised by the tax will be used exclusively to improve tourism infrastructure projects that benefit both visitors and local people. Municipalities will have to demonstrate that their facilities are inadequate and have their plans approved by the government to spend the funds.

Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s minister of trade and industry, said on social media that her government had reached a “historic agreement” to introduce a tourism tax that was “in line with what they have in the rest of Europe”.

The country is the latest in a string of European nations introducing or increasing visitor levies to tackle the growing problem of overtourism. A tax may also be applied to cruise ships that make stops in the country, particularly in areas that are most affected by overtourism.

Norway is experiencing a tourism boom

As tourists increasingly choose cooler, northern European destinations to get away from the heat, Norway has experienced a boom in visitor numbers.

Last year, a record-breaking 38.6 million people booked accommodation in the country. That includes more than 12 million overnight stays by foreign tourists – a 4.2 per cent increase from 2023.

Some previously quiet destinations have been overwhelmed, like the Lofoten islands, where eye-catching images of hiking trails posted on social media have led to an influx of visitors. With a population of 24,500 people distributed across several small towns and villages, keeping up with the cost of all these new visitors has been hard.

A recent survey by industry organisation Norwegian Tourism Partners found that 77 per cent of people in Tromsø, in northern Norway above the Arctic Circle, thought there were too many tourists there. Visitors have been drawn by the Northern Lights, wildlife excursions, Sami cultural experiences and what the city itself has to offer.

The increase in tourism has caused tension with local residents across Norway as infrastructure has struggled to keep up with the boom. Facilities like public toilets and car parks have been overwhelmed in popular destinations.

Some residents have even reported cases of people using their back gardens as toilets, and bemoaned the increased traffic clogging up Norway’s roads.

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  • 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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Wildfire warnings issued in the Canary Islands as millions prepare to holiday there

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As millions of holidaymakers prepare to head to the Canary Islands this summer, authorities have issued a wildfire pre-alert across the archipelago.

The warning, announced by the General Directorate of Emergencies on Sunday, applies to tourist hotspots El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

It comes as the islands enter a high-risk fire period following the wet season, as hot, dry winds known as the ‘calima’ begin blowing in from the Sahara Desert.

Fires are common, but they haven’t slowed tourism

The risk of wildfire is nothing new for the Canary Islands.

The volcanic terrain, Mediterranean climate and fire-adapted vegetation – plants that have evolved to thrive in fire-prone environments – make them susceptible to summer blazes, and scientists say wildfires are part of the archipelago’s ecological rhythm.

Some of the worst occurred in 2023, when forest fires ravaged Tenerife, destroying more than 15,000 hectares of land and forcing 12,000 people to evacuate. The blaze was later found to have been started by arsonists.

This year, officials are urging tourists and locals alike to take extreme caution, warning against launching fireworks near forests and discarding cigarettes on dry ground.

But even as the fire warnings roll in, the Canaries’ appeal shows no signs of slowing down.

In 2024, the islands welcomed nearly 18 million tourists, including a record-breaking 15.5 million international arrivals. Among them, British travellers led the way, recording 6.3 million visits – up 500,000 from 2023.

Concerns about overtourism mount amid record arrivals

While the Canary Islands continue to attract record numbers of tourists, residents are increasingly voicing concerns about overtourism.

In April 2024, tens of thousands of islanders participated in protests, holding signs that read “the Canary Islands have a limit” while rallying against rising housing costs, environmental damage and the strain on public services.

Over Easter this year, about 80,000 hospitality workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierrowalked out in a dispute with unions over pay.

The surge in short-term rentals has been especially contentious. Locals have reported getting priced out of their neighbourhoods as properties are converted into holiday  lets, the cost of living soars and wages stagnate.

Despite these concerns, tourism remains a significant part of the Canary Islands’ economy, accounting for approximately 35 per cent of its GDP.

Tenerife still reigns supreme

After welcoming seven million tourists in 2024, Tenerife remains the most visited island.

Its year-round sunshine and wide beaches keep it a firm favourite among families, especially during the UK’s summer school break and throughout the winter months.

As the peak summer season picks up, local tourism boards have made no indication that the fire pre-alerts will disrupt travel plans.

But authorities remain focused on prevention this year.

More than 2,000 firefighters are on standby. Meanwhile, the government has distributed detailed safety advice, urging people to prepare a go-bag, stay informed and follow emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions if fires erupt.

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  • 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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Violent turbulence hits Ryanair flight in Germany, forcing an emergency landing and injuring 9

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By&nbspEuronews Travel&nbspwith&nbspAP

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Severe storms in southern Germany forced a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing late Wednesday after violent turbulence injured nine people on board, German police said in a statement Thursday.

The flight, travelling from Berlin to Milan with 179 passengers and six crew members, encountered turbulence so intense around 8:30 pm that the pilot was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Memmingen Airport in Bavaria.

Eight passengers and one crew member were hurt.

Three people were taken to the hospital in Memmingen for treatment; the other injured people were released after receiving outpatient treatment. As a precaution, all passengers were checked for injuries by the emergency services.

Authorities did not permit the plane to continue flying, and the airline arranged bus transport for passengers. Milan is about 380 kilometres south of Memmingen.

More bad weather expected in Germany

Elsewhere in the region, storms damaged several homes in Ulm, Baden-Württmberg, according to the German news agency dpa.

In the Donaustetten district, strong winds tore roofs off multiple row houses, rendering them uninhabitable, though no injuries were reported. Fire officials suspect a small tornado or waterspout caused the damage. The German Weather Service (DWD) is investigating, according to dpa.

Storm-related emergency calls also came from other areas in southern Germany, where damage was mostly limited to fallen trees and flooded basements.

The DWD warned of further storms on Thursday, 5 June, with hail, strong winds, and localised heavy rain expected.

Author

  • 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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