More and more destinations around the world are now looking to ban tourists, or at least reduce the crowds dramatically. In an age of packed flights and selfie-stick crowds, some beloved places are saying “enough.” From Bhutan to Barcelona, countries and cities are finding that overtourism, environmental stress, and cultural erosion are forcing them to rethink how many visitors they can handle. They’re not banning tourists for political reasons – instead, they’re trying to protect their culture, nature, and way of life. Moms planning family trips may soon find that their dream destinations come with tighter rules or even limits on entry. This shift isn’t about closing doors entirely – it’s about balancing local needs with global wanderlust. Here are ten iconic destinations that may soon ban tourists, or limit their numbers drastically.
Iceland: Cooling Down the Tourist Surge
Iceland’s stunning volcanic terrain, geysers, and waterfalls have drawn millions of tourists in the last decade. But the country’s fragile ecosystems are struggling to handle the surge. In 2010, Iceland welcomed just under 500,000 visitors; by 2018, that number had jumped to over 2.3 million – a 400% increase. This boom has led to erosion at popular sites, overcrowded trails, and strain on local infrastructure. The Icelandic government has responded with measures that hint at deeper restrictions ahead. Cruise ships now pay a tax per visitor, and tour operators face tighter regulation. Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir has supported new taxes that would funnel funds into preserving natural sites.
Iceland has also piloted reservation systems and capacity caps at hotspots like Þingvellir National Park and the Fjadrárgljúfur canyon, which famously closed temporarily after a spike in traffic from a Justin Bieber music video. Locals worry that unchecked growth could erode the very landscapes that make Iceland special. Though the country hasn’t declared it will ban tourists, more restrictions and higher costs are clearly on the horizon. If current trends continue, Iceland may target high-traffic zones with partial closures or seasonal access bans to preserve its environment for future generations.
Barcelona, Spain: Saving the Soul of the City
Barcelona’s old streets and iconic architecture have made it one of Europe’s most visited cities, drawing over 32 million tourists annually. But for locals, that popularity comes at a cost. Residents complain of crowded neighborhoods, rising rents, and noise pollution – all fueled by mass tourism. In response, the city has rolled out a suite of reforms aimed at regaining control. Mayor Jaume Collboni’s administration is phasing out 10,000 illegal vacation rentals by 2028 and has banned any new licenses for short-term tourist apartments. The city has also raised its tourist tax, with cruise ship passengers now paying an extra fee, especially if they don’t stay overnight.
In the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla, local authorities have enforced tour group caps, noise limits, and pedestrian traffic controls. Officials say they don’t want to ban tourists entirely, but they do want to reclaim the city for its residents. Collboni has called for a shift to “quality tourism,” favoring travelers who stay longer and respect the culture. There’s also growing pressure from citizens’ groups demanding stricter visitor limits in key areas. If these urban tensions persist, Barcelona may start enforcing daily caps or seasonal closures in its most popular neighborhoods – a targeted way to ban tourists during peak periods without shutting down the entire city.
New Zealand: Quality Over Quantity Tourism
New Zealand’s dramatic scenery and outdoor adventures have long made it a favorite for global travelers. In 2019, the country received nearly 4 million visitors – almost matching its own population. That flood of travelers has led to concerns about trail erosion, littering, and overcrowding in remote areas. As a result, New Zealand’s tourism strategy has shifted from growth to sustainability. Officials introduced the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy in 2019, requiring most tourists to pay NZD $35 upon entry. These funds support infrastructure, conservation, and biodiversity programs. National parks like Fiordland and Tongariro now require advance booking for popular trails, with some imposing daily caps.
There’s also tighter enforcement of freedom camping rules after locals reported human waste and environmental damage from campervans parked illegally. Tourism Minister Stuart Nash famously stated that the country isn’t targeting “backpackers who eat instant noodles,” instead promoting higher-spending visitors who contribute more and cause less strain. The government is also considering “rest periods” for overused destinations – seasonal closures to let ecosystems recover. If tourism rebounds too quickly, certain areas may face more drastic steps, such as entry lotteries or outright bans on casual visits. These growing controls are designed not to discourage travel entirely, but to ensure New Zealand’s natural beauty isn’t lost in the rush.
Japan: Capping Crowds to Keep Attractions Enjoyable
Japan’s tourism renaissance has brought record-breaking crowds back to iconic sites, but it’s also reignited concerns about “kankō kōgai” – tourism pollution. Mount Fuji, once a tranquil pilgrimage route, now faces thousands of daily climbers, many ill-prepared for the trek. In response, Japanese officials introduced a mandatory ¥2,000 climbing fee in 2024 on the most popular Yoshida Trail and capped daily access to 4,000 hikers. The goal is to prevent unsafe “bullet climbs,” reduce waste, and protect fragile alpine vegetation. But crowd control goes beyond Fuji. In Okinawa, Iriomote Island – a UNESCO-protected ecosystem and home to the endangered Iriomote cat – now limits daily tourists to 1,200.
Kyoto has seen residents protest overtourism in historic neighborhoods like Gion, where geisha districts are now off-limits to photography and tour groups must follow strict etiquette rules. The city is also dramatically increasing its lodging tax, with luxury visitors expected to pay up to ¥10,000 per night by 2026. Even small towns like Ginzan Onsen have introduced evening entry caps to preserve the village’s serene atmosphere. Japan’s approach isn’t to ban tourists outright, but to filter who comes, how many arrive, and where they go. If current conditions persist, expect more permit systems, reservation-only access, and seasonal restrictions – all subtle yet effective ways to ban tourists without closing doors.
Bhutan: High Value, Low Impact Travel Only
Bhutan offers a radically different model of tourism – one that prioritizes cultural preservation and environmental balance over mass-market appeal. Known for its Gross National Happiness philosophy, Bhutan was among the first countries to intentionally limit tourism to protect its way of life. Since reopening post-COVID, the government has set a nightly Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100 per visitor, down from an earlier $200, which still makes it one of the most expensive countries to visit. The SDF funds public education, healthcare, and infrastructure while discouraging short, superficial trips. Travelers are also required to book through licensed operators and use local guides, ensuring their visit directly supports the economy.
Activities like mountaineering on sacred peaks are entirely banned, and wildlife reserves and rural villages remain off-limits to unsupervised tourism. Bhutan’s Tourism Council has emphasized that they are not looking to increase visitor numbers but to improve the quality of experiences. Officials are also discussing caps on annual tourist arrivals and zoning certain regions as protected from foreign access. These quiet restrictions serve as Bhutan’s way of choosing who can enter – a curated experience rather than a casual stop. It’s not a full decision to ban tourists, but it is a selective embrace that prioritizes sustainability over volume.
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Australia: Preserving Natural and Cultural Heritage
Australia may be vast, but its most iconic sites are increasingly under pressure from high visitor numbers. One of the boldest moves came in 2019 when the government permanently banned climbing Uluru, the massive red monolith sacred to the Anangu people. The decision followed years of pleas from Indigenous communities who saw climbing as a spiritual violation and endured the damage caused by tens of thousands of visitors each year. Across the country, similar protective actions are unfolding. The Great Barrier Reef is now under constant monitoring, and tour operators must adhere to strict permits that regulate boat access, snorkeler numbers, and anchor zones.
Popular parks like Kakadu and the Daintree rainforest have implemented seasonal closures and enforce rigid stay-on-trail policies. On Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, only 400 tourists are allowed at a time, thanks to a cap tied to lodging availability. Local councils in other remote regions are debating similar limits, citing strain on water, waste systems, and wildlife habitats. These efforts aren’t designed to fully ban tourists, but they clearly set thresholds that many travelers won’t cross. More parks may introduce quotas or entry lotteries as tourism grows. For visitors willing to plan ahead and respect the land, Australia remains open—but for those who ignore the rules, the door may close.
Venice, Italy: Fighting for Its Future Over the Flood of Visitors
Venice has become a global case study in overtourism, with over 20 million visitors arriving each year to a city of just 50,000 residents. Crowds clog the narrow alleys, strain infrastructure, and drive up housing costs, forcing locals out of their neighborhoods. In 2021, Venice made headlines by banning large cruise ships from the historic lagoon. The decision followed years of protests and damage from ship wakes eroding canal foundations and flooding cultural sites. In 2024, the city rolled out a trial €5 day-tripper fee for visitors who aren’t staying overnight. Now, in 2025, Venice is expanding that policy: on peak days, late-arriving tourists must pay €10 to enter the city. These fees help cover maintenance, security, and crowd control while discouraging unplanned mass arrivals.
Venice also capped the size of tour groups, restricted loudspeakers, and heavily fined illegal short-term rentals. New zoning policies now block conversions of homes into tourist lodging in key districts. While the city hasn’t announced it will ban tourists, officials are clearly engineering ways to reduce volume without declaring a full closure. The long-term goal is to transition from chaotic sightseeing to curated, respectful tourism. If crowds continue to spike, Venice could implement entry reservations for day visits, creating the first urban tourist quota system in Europe.
Thailand: Protecting Paradise by Limiting Tourists
Thailand has taken bold and sometimes controversial steps to protect its natural treasures from tourism’s toll. The most famous example is Maya Bay, the stunning cove on Phi Phi Leh Island made iconic by the 2000 film The Beach. Years of nonstop traffic damaged coral reefs and littered the sands, prompting officials to close the bay entirely in 2018. After more than three years of recovery, Maya Bay reopened in 2022—but with strict controls. Swimming is now banned, visitor numbers are capped at 300 per hour, and access is limited to a floating pier on the opposite side of the island. Park rangers enforce short visits and no-entry zones, and the beach closes annually for seasonal regeneration.
Thailand has also introduced tighter rules across national parks, requiring online reservations for diving spots like the Similan Islands and limiting campers in Khao Yai. In Chiang Mai and Bangkok, locals have called for better behavior from tourists at temples and markets. A proposed nationwide 300-baht (~$9) tourist entry fee is still under review, but many expect it to pass. These controls are part of Thailand’s shift toward high-value, low-impact tourism. If problems persist, more beaches or islands may be temporarily closed—or see full restrictions placed on certain visitor types. The country may not outright ban tourists, but it’s sending a clear signal: behave responsibly, or you won’t be welcome.
Maldives: Sinking Under Tourists or Saving Their Islands?
The Maldives is synonymous with luxury travel, yet its idyllic islands face rising seas and mounting pressure from tourism. With most land less than five feet above sea level, climate change is an existential threat. But overtourism also plays a role, as the country hosts more than 1.8 million visitors a year—nearly four times its population. The environmental cost is significant: coral bleaching, plastic pollution, and beach erosion plague many resort areas. In 2025, the government doubled its “Green Tax” to $12 per night at luxury resorts and $6 at guesthouses, aiming to raise funds for sustainability and waste management.
Hanifaru Bay, a critical marine habitat, now requires permits for entry and enforces strict limits on snorkeling sessions. New laws restrict resort development, with caps on hotel sizes and building density to reduce environmental impact. Officials have even discussed rotating island closures during low seasons to allow ecosystems to recover. The Maldives is also encouraging resorts to go fully solar-powered and adopt reef restoration programs. While tourism remains the backbone of the economy, the country is making it clear that only eco-conscious travel will be sustainable. If environmental stress escalates, expect more protected zones to ban tourists completely, especially around vulnerable reefs and sandbanks.
Bali, Indonesia: Cracking Down to Protect “Paradise”
Bali’s stunning beaches and spiritual charm attract millions annually, but with that popularity comes mounting challenges. Traffic congestion, pollution, and disrespectful behavior have fueled frustration among locals. In response, the Balinese government is stepping up enforcement and rolling out new policies to manage tourism. In 2023, Governor Wayan Koster proposed banning foreign tourists from renting motorbikes after a surge in traffic violations and accidents. Instead, visitors are encouraged to hire local drivers or use licensed taxis. Bali also introduced a new tourist tax in early 2024: 150,000 IDR (roughly $10 USD) per visitor, collected upon entry. The funds go directly toward environmental restoration and cultural preservation.
Authorities are cracking down on inappropriate behavior at sacred sites, handing out fines and deportations to tourists who violate local norms. Some temples now require modest dress and silent conduct, with signage in multiple languages. Ecological recovery is also a priority. Bali has closed popular snorkeling and diving areas like Nusa Penida for seasonal regeneration and launched coral replanting projects. Government officials are exploring a quota system for daily entries to overvisited beaches. These changes don’t explicitly ban tourists, but they limit access to reduce impact—and may evolve into broader bans if visitor behavior doesn’t improve.
Conclusion
More places are taking steps to ban tourists – not out of hostility, but to preserve what makes them special. These aren’t blanket bans, but strategic limits aimed at protecting culture, nature, and local quality of life. As destinations set stricter rules, travelers are being asked to plan ahead, follow guidelines, and consider their impact. For families especially, this shift is a reminder that travel to sacred or rare places is a privilege, not a right. Supporting these changes means ensuring your children and grandchildren can one day visit the same wonders. Whether it’s a quiet temple, a coral reef, or a cobblestone street, the best experiences are the ones that last. In the end, responsible tourism isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing better.
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