All over Europe, countries are waking up to the nightmare that is overtourism. In turn, communities have led unpermitted protests and passed local ordinances to protect their ecosystems. Since May, Italy has been listed as a Level 2 travel advisory by the State Department, citing threats of terrorism. Spain just got hit with that same advisory due to civil unrest. At the same time, Portugal has kept a Level 1 advisory, which lets tourists visit the country while recommending only that they use common sense about precautions.
In Italy, cities like Venice and Milan have experienced large protests against overtourism. Venice, the famed city of canals, recently started charging visitors an entrance fee, a policy first enacted last spring. This action is designed to manage the deluge of visitors that has impacted the popular site.
Tourist Limits in Italy
Meanwhile, Pompeii—also a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is acting to control the damage caused by its extreme over tourism. Beginning November 2024, to manage the impacts of overtourism, they will cap daily visitors at 20,000. This decision is part of a larger positive trend occurring in Italy. To protect cultural heritage and improve the quality of life for residents, authorities are starting to limit overall tourist numbers.
Many local governments are working to restrict where mass tourism can grow, both out of concern for how it stretches resources and infrastructure. The protests in Milan deeply illustrate the growing frustration of residents. They are tired of the impacts tourism has on increasing the cost of living and evicting residents. The demonstrators’ sentiments were captured in their rallying cry:
“As you come, I have to go.” – Protestors
Spain’s Measures Against Overtourism
Spain has been a leader in addressing the challenges created by overtourism. Barcelona is hoping to revoke over 10,000 short-term residential rental permits by 2028. This step is just one piece of how they’re strategically combating the housing squeeze for community members. On top of that, the city will raise daily tourist tax rates for cruise arrivals that visit the city less than 12 hours.
Palma de Mallorca witnessed the same kind of unrest when protesters stormed the streets in Palma on June 15, 2025. The demonstrators spoke to demands that were being heard all over Europe as they called on public officials to address the harmful effects of overtourism.
“As you come, I have to go.” – [no specific source]
Protests in Portugal
Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, has certainly not been insulated from these growing tensions. Demonstrations against overtourism have picked up steam, with protestors calling for an end to “touristification” in cities such as Lisbon, above. Remote tourists visiting a local bat terrace watched in horror as protesters walked by, forcing employers to reckon with an increasing rift between visitors and residents.
Portugal is still under a Level 1 advisory as of today. The protests signal that residents are becoming more in-tune with how the rise of tourism is impacting their everyday lives. The local backlash resonates with international fears that mass tourism is undermining community vitality and cultural character.
