From boom to burden: How overtourism emerges

"According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization's World Tourism Barometer, an estimated 1.52 billion international tourists were recorded globally in 2025 nearly 60 million more than in 2024. Europe remained the world's most popular destination region, welcoming around 793 million international visitors. Faced with this tourism boom, a growing number of destinations are reaching their limits, prompting local authorities to try to rein in the negative effects that large visitor numbers can have."

"Paris and Barcelona two of the world's most visited cities are among them. Anti-tourism protests regularly take place across Spain, with Barcelona as the most contested city. In Barcelona, politicians recently decided to double the nightly tourist tax, while Paris raised its own sharply in 2024. Rome has taken a different approach: sightseers must now pay an entrance fee to see the famous Trevi Fountain. Venice, meanwhile, introduced a visitor fee for last-minute day-trippers in the summer of 2024."

""It's important to distinguish between sightseeing and beach trips or vacations focused on recreation," says Hasso Spode, a historian and director of the Tourism Archive at the Technical University of Berlin, who's been researching tourism for decades. In popular cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Rome, and Venice, iconic landmarks play a central role in drawing visitors. After all, sights like the Eiffel Tower, the Sagrada Familia and the Colosseum sit high on many people's bucket lists."

International tourist arrivals reached an estimated 1.52 billion in 2025, nearly 60 million more than 2024. Europe welcomed about 793 million international visitors. Popular cities like Paris, Barcelona, Rome and Venice are nearing capacity and experiencing anti-tourism protests, especially in Barcelona. Cities are adopting measures to limit impacts: Barcelona doubled the nightly tourist tax; Paris sharply raised its tourist tax in 2024; Rome now charges an entrance fee for the Trevi Fountain; Venice introduced a summer visitor fee for last-minute day-trippers. Iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Sagrada Familia and Colosseum remain primary attractions. Travel affordability from budget airlines and short-term rentals has expanded access to these destinations.

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