overtourism

The Maui County Council Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia District candidate Q&As focus on disaster loans and overtourism. The incumbent council member is facing one challenger for the seat.

Spain is promoting less-visited regions to shift from its traditional 'sun and sand' tourism model, aiming to reach 100 million foreign visitors for the first time. Tourism minister Jordi Hereu dismissed concerns about saturation, emphasizing the need to address overtourism and climate emergency impacts.

Six Kauaʻi County mayoral candidates answered questions on key issues including feral cats, ICE, and overtourism in a Q&A session for the incoming mayor of the Garden Isle.

Cape Town is addressing overtourism and housing shortages caused by short-term rentals, similar to cities like Barcelona and San Francisco. A proposed by-law may impose special charges on property owners who rent homes for commercial purposes.

Violence erupted in Kenya, resulting in one death as police clashed with protesters opposing a US-planned Ebola quarantine center. Outrage also arose over the US ban on referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup. Cape Town faces overtourism challenges as more homes are reserved for visitors.

Shibuya Ward in Tokyo began issuing 2,000-yen fines for littering in public areas starting June 1 to address overtourism challenges. The measure follows a surge in international visitors, with 42.7 million recorded in 2025, and includes increased patrols and multilingual enforcement staff. Japan also plans to triple its international tourist tax to 3,000 yen per visitor.

Tokyo's Shibuya district will see dozens of officials patrolling to issue on-the-spot fines for littering as Japan addresses the challenges of overtourism.

The article discusses how overtourism, driven by social media, is negatively impacting the world's most popular and fragile destinations. It highlights the role of social media in increasing tourist numbers and the resulting strain on these locations.

The article examines how overtourism, driven largely by social media, is straining popular and environmentally sensitive destinations worldwide. It highlights the growing tension between tourism and the preservation of fragile ecosystems and cultural sites.

Tourism contributes 10% to the global economy but is causing strain on destinations like Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, and Portofino due to overcrowding driven by social media. Local communities are resisting or redefining tourism in these fragile locations.

Greece has expanded its list of protected beaches to 250-251, banning commercial activities like sunbed and umbrella rentals to combat overtourism and preserve ecological areas. The policy targets remote, environmentally sensitive beaches to protect habitats of endangered species such as monk seals and loggerhead turtles.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas warns that uncontrolled tourism, with 8 million visitors against 700,000 residents, is pushing locals out of neighborhoods and threatening the city's authenticity. He aims to reclaim the congested city center for residents.

Spain's Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca face overtourism challenges with plans to limit visitor numbers and restrict tourist rentals. Social media's role in boosting tourism is highlighted as a key factor driving overcrowding and environmental strain.

Japan is tripling its international tourist tax to 3,000 yen per visitor to address overtourism concerns, including canceled cherry blossom festivals due to overcrowding. Officials emphasize balancing tourism growth with residents' quality of life while implementing new visa procedures like JESTA.