France Unites Italy, Portugal, And Spain Set Historic, Unprecedented Tourism Crackdown And Tourists Must Pay The Price For Destroying Natural Resources: What You Need To Know

Published on December 2, 2025

Overtourism has near visible scars connected Europe’s astir beautiful landscapes. Coastal dunes person eroded nether millions of footsteps, ancient conifer forests are struggling against ungraded compaction and uncommon marine habitats are stressed by uncontrolled traffic. Conscious of these threats, authorities successful France, Italy, Portugal and Spain person implemented strict protocols that make visitors responsible for protecting vulnerable ecosystems. These measures scope from quotas and permits to fines and behavioural codes. They correspond a displacement from unfettered entree to responsible tourism wherever visitors must beryllium their respect for quality aliases consequence being turned distant aliases penalised.

France – Reservations to Protect nan Calanques

On France’s Mediterranean coast, Calanques National Park adjacent Marseille has go a awesome of nan country’s efforts to negociate vulnerable sites. The park’s celebrated inlet astatine Sugiton was erstwhile overwhelmed by hikers seeking turquoise coves. Years of footfall compacted ungraded and destabilised slopes; parkland rangers observed that crushed nonaccomplishment threatened nan conifer forests and younger plants. To halt nan erosion, nan parkland introduced a reservation system covering circumstantial weekends successful June and September and each time from precocious June to 31 August. Bookings are free but mandatory and must beryllium made a fewer days successful advance; groups larger than 5 are not accepted and visitors must transportation their preservation erstwhile entering. The park’s website explains that limiting regular numbers slows down erosion and allows earthy vegetation to recover[1]. It besides emphasises that nan preservation is simply a preventative measurement alternatively than an exclusive privilege, and encourages visitors to position themselves arsenic partners successful conservation alternatively than consumers.

Within nan Calanques, different longstanding rules prohibition camping, fires, smoking and off‑trail excursions. Rangers patrol nan trails, rumor warnings and tin good those who disregard restrictions. These measures bespeak a broader inclination successful France wherever entree to delicate upland passes aliases coastal reserves is progressively regulated. By equipping visitors pinch knowledge and placing limits connected numbers, authorities displacement nan load of attraction onto visitors and guarantee that earthy beauty tin beryllium enjoyed without being destroyed.

Italy – Fines for Sand Theft and Strict Beach Rules

Italy’s coastline offers immoderate of Europe’s astir scenic beaches, but it besides suffers from theft of soil and pebbles arsenic souvenirs. On nan land of Sardinia, taking sand, pebbles aliases shells is illegal. A run supported by airdrome authorities warns departing visitors that they could beryllium fined €500 to €3,000 nether location rule if caught pinch soil successful their luggage[2]. This rule reflects a increasing nickname that moreover mini acts tin collectively degrade beaches. Airport unit show confiscated bottles of soil to dissuade would‑be collectors and item nan seriousness of nan offence.

At La Pelosa beach successful Stintino, nan section municipality has adopted a elaborate regularisation to protect its shallow turquoise bay and vulnerable dune system. The rules forbid parking connected nan formation and barroom centrifugal vehicles from transiting adjacent nan shoreline[3]. Visitors are prohibited from littering, lighting fires without authorisation, sportfishing successful bathing zones, camping overnight aliases digging holes successful nan sand. The regularisation besides prohibits removing immoderate earthy element—including sand, stones, shells and plants—and forbids soap aliases shampoo usage successful nan sea[4]. Municipal constabulary and authorised agents are empowered to enforce nan rules. This formalised attack does not conscionable inquire visitors to behave; it stipulates what is unacceptable and attaches penalties.

These section actions are complemented by broader nationalist initiatives. Venice has introduced a day‑visitor interest to negociate crowds, and celebrated hiking trails for illustration those successful Cinque Terre limit regular numbers during highest season. Italy’s attack combines education, fines and limiting access, pinch an accent connected nan thought that visitors must respect nan taste and earthy practice they enjoy.

Portugal – Quotas, Permits and a Code of Conduct

Portugal has joined visitant guidance pinch biology education. On nan mini Berlenga Grande Island disconnected nan seashore of Peniche, nan authorities introduced an access fee and mandatory online registration. The island’s ecosystems person a constricted carrying capacity, truthful only 550 people whitethorn beryllium coming connected nan land astatine immoderate time[5]. Visitors must registry done nan BerlengasPass level and salary a humble fee; nan gross costs conservation projects and infrastructure maintenance. The measurement is enshrined successful nationalist regulations that recognise that without intervention, nan island’s biodiversity could beryllium irreversibly damaged. Signage connected nan land urges visitors to instrumentality to marked trails, debar disturbing nesting seabirds and return each discarded backmost to nan mainland.

Beyond individual sites, Portugal’s Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) has produced a Code of Conduct for Protected Areas. The guideline reminds visitors that their beingness has an effect and outlines responsibilities: travellers must transportation retired each their discarded and deposit it successful due locations; they should study irregularities to authorities; respect section customs; support sound down; and debar picking plants aliases geological specimens[6]. Hikers are instructed to enactment connected marked trails, not to commencement fires aliases disturb wildlife, and to usage designated picnic and camping areas. Recreational activities are only allowed successful authorised zones. By formalising these expectations, Portugal makes visitors accountable for preserving earthy practice crossed nationalist parks and reserves, not conscionable astatine 1 aliases 2 celebrated spots.

Spain – Traffic Caps and Authorisation Systems

Spain has confronted overtourism by instituting strict visitant limits connected islands and nationalist parks. On Formentera, nan smallest of nan Balearic Islands, nan Consell de Formentera introduced groundbreaking authorities to modulate conveyance traffic. Officials observed that during July and August, nan island’s organization triples and nan number of cars multiplies. To support biology and economical stability, they capped nan number of centrifugal vehicles permitted to enter, thrust and parkland during nan precocious play (1 June to 30 September). The limit for 2025 is 10,287 vehicles, which is 16 % lower than nan erstwhile year[7]. The regularisation specifies different quotas for cars and motorcycles belonging to visitors, residents aliases rental companies[8]. Quads and caravans are wholly banned because they harm unpaved roads and camping is prohibited[9].

Visitors who wish to bring a conveyance must use for a licence done a dedicated portal. Fees scope from €6 per day successful June and September to €9 per day successful July and August for cars, pinch half‑price rates for motorcycles and discounts for hybrid vehicles[10]. Electric vehicles, residents of nan Balearic Islands and group pinch reduced mobility are exempt from nan fee[11]. The vehicle’s licence sheet serves arsenic a badge and is utilized for search compliance; erstwhile quotas are reached nary much permits are issued[12]. By linking entree to a licence sheet and imposing fees, Formentera turns biology stewardship into an enforceable obligation.

Further north, nan Atlantic Islands National Park of Galicia manages 4 land groups — Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada — done an authorisation system. High‑season visitors (Easter and 15 May to 15 September) must get anterior support from nan Xunta de Galicia earlier purchasing ferry tickets[13]. The parkland restricts nan regular number of time visitors, campers and vessel anchorages to trim unit connected delicate habitats[14]. Regulations explicitly prohibition lighting fires, leaving down waste, entering prohibited areas, disturbing aliases harming wildlife, uprooting vegetation and collecting shells aliases different geological elements[15]. Visitors cannot bring centrifugal vehicles, and only pedestrian postulation is allowed connected trails[16]. Even filming aliases flying drones requires anterior authorization[17]. These rules, published connected nan park’s charismatic website, underscore that nan islands are conserved for nan nationalist bully and that enjoyment must not travel astatine nan environment’s expense.

From nan limestone cliffs of nan Calanques to nan quiet dunes of La Pelosa, nan Berlengas seabird colonies and nan pine‑scented trails of nan Cíes Islands, Europe’s southwestern nations are redefining tourism astir responsibility. France is pioneering preservation systems that limit numbers and springiness vulnerable ecosystems breathing space. Italy fines those who pouch soil and enforces strict formation bylaws. Portugal issues permits and educates visitors done a codification of behaviour that stresses individual responsibility. Spain caps conveyance numbers connected Formentera and requires authorisation for introduction to its Atlantic islands, coupled pinch elaborate bans connected harmful activities.

These measures are much than bureaucratic hurdles; they correspond an ethical displacement that acknowledges nature’s limits. By placing clear obligations connected visitors and reserving nan correct to contradict entree aliases levy fines, authorities are ensuring that earthy resources stay intact for early generations. Travellers, successful turn, are encouraged to spot themselves arsenic custodians alternatively than consumers. As much destinations instrumentality akin protocols, sustainable tourism will go nan norm alternatively than nan exception, proving that enjoyment of quality tin coexist pinch its preservation.

Reference List

1. Parc nationalist des Calanques article connected limiting visitors to Sugiton and Pierres Tombées; describes erosion and free preservation system[1][18].
2. Stintino municipal regularisation connected formation usage and shoreline; lists prohibitions (vehicles, fires, fishing, camping, removing earthy elements) and enforcement by municipal police[3][4].
3. Sardinia airdrome article (SOGAER) connected “furti di sabbia” campaign; warns that removing soil and pebbles from beaches is forbidden and punishable by fines of 500–3,000 euros nether location law[2].
4. Natural.PT article connected Berlenga island; explains entree interest and mandatory registration pinch a maximum of 550 visitors to protect ecosystems[5].
5. ICNF Code of Conduct for Protected Areas; outlines visitant responsibilities specified arsenic taking discarded home, respecting section customs, staying connected trails, not picking plants and avoiding noise[6].
6. Formentera Council (formentera.eco) accusation page connected regulating conveyance flow; specifications objectives, quotas, play of application, conveyance categories, restrictions connected quads and caravans, and fees for permits[19].
7. Formentera Council page besides notes that licence plates are utilized for search compliance and lists exempt categories specified arsenic electrical vehicles and residents[20].
8. Xunta de Galicia “Authorizations and regulations” page for nan Atlantic Islands National Park; states that visitors to Cíes aliases Ons during Easter and mid‑May to mid‑September request anterior authorization, and enumerates prohibited activities including fires, littering, disturbing wildlife, collecting shells and bringing centrifugal vehicles[21].