PULSE - Europe beyond the beat

Tourism

Overtourism, Europe raises the price of access: from tickets on Greek islands to taxes on cruises in Croatia

From day visitor tickets to cruise taxes, the use of new tax instruments to curb overtourism and finance the sustainability of destinations is growing in Europe

by Silvia Martelli (Il Sole 24 Ore), Mike Konstantopoulos (Efsyn, Greece) and Marina Kelava (H-Alter, Croatia)

31 January 2026

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Faced with overtourism, Europe is experimenting with new fiscal levers to govern flows and defend territories increasingly under pressure. From entrance fees for day visitors on Greek islands to taxes on large cruise ships in Croatia, the number of local administrations trying to 'put a price' on access is growing, with the declared aim of financing infrastructure, mitigating environmental impact and improving residents' quality of life.

The most advanced case is that of Greece. Here some smaller islands, particularly exposed to day tourism by sea, are introducing or considering an entrance fee. Symi, in the Dodecanese, has promoted a EUR 3 fee for 'hit and run' visitors, mostly cruise passengers. But the initiative could spread: 34 islands in the South Aegean, between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, have asked the government for permission to introduce a similar measure. The aim is not only to disincentivise overcrowding during peak hours, but also to create a stable source of funding for public services, waste management, water networks and environmental protection.

Indeed, the pressure of mass tourism, especially that concentrated in a few hours, has obvious effects on the daily life of local communities. Housing costs increase, housing supply for residents decreases, gentrification phenomena grow, and the environmental balance of fragile territories is put at risk. Local administrations, often with limited resources, find themselves bearing high costs for infrastructures sized for seasonal populations much larger than the resident population.

A different approach, but with similar aims, is that adopted in Croatia, another country strongly exposed to cruise tourism in the Mediterranean. Here the individual visitor is not taxed, but the ships. Several cities and municipalities apply a tariff to cruises based on the number of passengers on board. In 2026, for example, a ship with more than 3,000 passengers pays more than EUR 5,300 for docking, while smaller vessels are subject to lower progressive amounts. Dubrovnik and Split have chosen to apply the levy, while other cities, such as Zadar, have decided not to introduce it. The regulatory framework is provided by the Croatian Tourist Tax Act, which leaves it up to local administrations to decide whether or not to apply the levy. 85% of the revenue remains with the municipality or city, the remaining 15% goes to the county. The resources must be earmarked by law for improving tourism infrastructure and sustainable development. A mechanism that aims to rebalance the relationship between the economic benefits of tourism and the social and environmental costs.

Alongside Greece and Croatia, other European countries are also experimenting with fiscal and regulatory instruments to curb overtourism, especially in the most exposed urban and island destinations.

In Spain, the issue is particularly strong in the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. For years, the Balearic Islands have applied an eco-tax per overnight stay, differentiated according to season and type of establishment, destined for environmental and land protection projects. In recent months, however, the debate has also shifted to daily and cruise flows, especially in Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, where high tourist pressure affects real estate prices, traffic and resource consumption. In Barcelona, in addition to the increase of the tourist tax, the municipality has imposed strict limits on tourist rentals and announced a gradual stop to licences in an attempt to counter the expulsion of residents from the city centre.

In France, the focus is mainly on Paris and the busiest coastal and mountain areas. The tourist tax, recently increased in view of major international events, is used to finance transport, urban maintenance and public services. In particularly fragile locations, such as the island of Porquerolles or parts of Brittany, access quotas and compulsory reservation systems, rather than direct tickets, have been introduced to protect ecosystems and quality of life.

The Netherlands also adopted restrictive measures. Amsterdam has progressively increased the tourist tax - one of the highest in Europe - and introduced a specific tariff for passengers on river and sea cruise ships. The resources are reinvested in urban cleanliness, waste management and security, while regulatory action is taken to discourage 'low-cost' and mass tourism, which is considered incompatible with the liveability of the city.

In the heart of Europe, Austria represents another interesting laboratory. In cities such as Vienna or Salzburg, the tourist tax has long been established, but the emerging issue concerns Alpine resorts, where the excess of seasonal visitors puts pressure on infrastructure, transport and the environment. Here the debate focuses less on new tickets and more on access limits, flow management and redistribution of visitors to less congested periods and areas.

The debate now runs through much of Europe, from the great cities of art to the smaller islands. The basic question remains the same: tourism continues to generate employment and income, but more and more often in a seasonal form, not very stable and with significant side effects on housing, services and the environment. In a context of growing travel and pressure on the most fragile destinations, Europe is thus experimenting with a new frontier in tourism policy: charging for access, not closing doors.

*This article is part of the European collaborative journalism project "Pulse"