Tourism is increasing over prepandemic levels, overwhelming popular destinations
Global travel was already swelling in 2024, when international travel reached 99% of its prepandemic levels, according to UN Tourism's World Tourism Barometer. In the first quarter of 2025, international tourist arrivals increased by 5% compared to the first quarter of 2024 and 3% compared to the first quarter of 2019.
This surge of vacationers is in part due to 'revenge travel': people are going on the long-awaited trips they weren't able to take during the pandemic. Partly as a result, popular sites and vacationing spots are facing an influx of tourists.
One of the countries most challenged by the flood of tourist traffic is Spain, which welcomed about 94 million foreign visitors in 2024—about double the country's entire population of 49 million. The barrage of foreign tourists is making destinations busier and prices more expensive, and locals as well as domestic tourists are getting pushed out of their own regions.
For Spain's 25 most popular coastal destinations, where hotel prices have risen 23% in the past three years, foreign tourism rose last year by 1.94 million people while local tourism dropped by 800,000. In contrast, about 1.7 million more Spaniards vacationed inland to more affordable areas last year compared to the year before.
But locals aren't relinquishing their hometowns and regional vacation destinations easily. In Barcelona, which has a population of 1.7 million and saw 15.5 million domestic and foreign visitors last year, protesters took to the streets this year and last to splash tourists with water guns.
In Paris, staff at the Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, went on strike in June, protesting the crowds, the lack of staffing, and the working conditions. The museum currently caps daily visitors at 30,000, which brings the maximum yearly attendance to 9.3 million—about 5 million more than the Louvre was designed to receive.
While locals are protesting overtourism, governments are trying to satiate their constituents without losing the economic boost that tourism provides. On a global scale, travel and tourism represented 10% of the global economy in 2024. Travel and tourism in Spain is expected to make up 16%, or $303.3 billion, of the country's national economy, and the same sector in France is expected to make up 9.3%, or $319.2 billion, of its output.
In trying to appease both sides, the government of Italy imposed a five-euro (almost $6) tax last year to tourists traveling into the city in an attempt to mitigate tourism at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fee, implemented in April, is applicable only to day trips, not longer visits, and is in effect for only 54 days of this year's peak tourism season. Residents of Venice, whose population has shrunk from about 175,000 in the 1970s to below 50,000 last year, said that the entrance fee turned their city into an amusement park and will not do much to discourage tourists.
Governments are also tightening regulations on short-term vacation rentals, specifically Airbnb, which limit the housing supply and therefore increase residential housing prices. The vacation rental company, which denies it has a role in hiking housing prices, is currently appealing a decision to take down around 66,000 properties in Spain that violate local rules. London and Paris, too, have capped the number of nights a property can be rented a year to 90 days.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
21 minutes ago
- CNN
Fed-up Italian farmers set up mountain turnstiles to charge access to Instagram hot spots
Social media Agriculture Tech giantsFacebookTweetLink Follow Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. If Carlo Zanella, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, had his way, travel influencers would be banned from the Dolomites. He blames them for the latest Italian social media trend, which has lured hundreds of thousands of tourists to the mountain range in northern Italy, with many traipsing across private land to get that perfect shot. In response to the influx, frustrated local farmers have set up turnstiles, where tourists must pay 5 euros (nearly $6) to access several 'Instagrammable' spots, including the Seceda and Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) mountain ranges. Photos showing lines of up to 4,000 people a day, have been popping up on social media in recent weeks. But rather than deter people from coming, the images have acted as a magnet. 'The media's been talking about the turnstiles, everyone's been talking about it,' says Zanella. 'And people go where everyone else goes. We're sheep.' Italian law mandates free access to natural parks, such as the Alps and Dolomites, but the landowners who set up the turnstiles say they have yet to receive any official pushback from authorities. Georg Rabanser, a former Italian national team snowboarder who owns land in a meadow on Seceda, told the Ladin-language magazine La Usc he and others started charging tourists to cross their land to make a point. 'So many people come through here every day, everyone goes through our properties and leaves trash,' he says. 'Ours was a cry for help. We expected a call from the provincial authorities. But nothing. We only read statements in the newspapers. Gossip; nothing concrete. We haven't even received warning letters. So we're moving forward.' Zanella, who says he avoids his once beloved alpine hiking trails during the summer months, supports the landowners charging admission to cross their property. He thinks the government should pay for the upkeep of the entrance system, likening the overtourism to Venice, where visitors have to pay a 10-euro entrance fee (around $12) on busy weekends. 'I would increase the price from 5 to 100 euros,' he tells CNN. 'And close the accounts of travel influencers.' Beyond the public nuisance of overcrowding, he fears the naivete of social media tourists puts them at risk. 'Once upon a time, those who came up to the mountains were prepared, dressed for the mountains, and came for hiking. Especially the Germans, who had maps and knew where to go. The Italians, on the other hand, set off, go, and take a cable car,' he says in a statement shared with CNN. 'Now I've seen people go up to Seceda with sun umbrellas and flip-flops and get stuck because the cable car closed and they hadn't checked the lift schedules (…) This isn't what the mountains should be,' he says. The local tourism body has petitioned authorities to close the turnstiles, insisting the issue is being overblown. The Santa Cristina Tourist Board, which oversees part of the area where the turnstiles have popped up, says they have hired four park rangers to ensure that tourists stay on the trails, don't cross the meadows and don't fly drones. 'Things have improved significantly,' Lukas Demetz, president of the Santa Cristina Tourist Board, said in a statement shared with CNN. 'And even the litter problem isn't as serious as people say. It's significantly reduced.' Still, across the Aosta Valley, parking lots have popped up to stop people from driving up the mountainside, and hikers are required to take the paid shuttle bus to Monte Rosa. At the Pian del Re peat bog in Piedmont, only 150 cars are allowed to park in the closest parking area to discourage visitors. Some regions, including Lake Braies, now charge 40 euros a car to access the area to try to deter people from coming in to take pictures. Arno Kompatscher, the governor of South Tyrol province, which includes part of the Dolomites range, has called on the national government to set restrictions to protect the fragile alpine ecosystems and dissuade local residents from renting out their chalets to tourists. The mountain residents aren't the only Italians clamping down on badly behaved visitors. Across the country, new ordinances have been a hallmark of the 2025 summer. Wearing just a swimsuit or going bare-chested in some Italian towns will attract more than a few looks. Semi-nudity could also land you a 500-euro fine — in the name of decorum. The Tuscan island of Elba and the Ligurian city of Diano Marina have both introduced summer ordinances that prohibit shirtless and swimsuit-only strutting — for both men and women — anywhere but the beach. And if your attire is deemed vulgar or 'indecent' in the eyes of any beholder, authorities can levy smaller fines starting at 25 euros. In Livorno, walking barefoot is prohibited. On Sardinian beaches, you'll get in trouble for digging holes for umbrellas, smoking, or lying on the sand without a mat. At the ever popular La Pelosa beach area, only 1,500 bathers are allowed at a time to prohibit overcrowding. In San Felice Circeo, a party town south of Rome where having an aperitivo on the beach is a way of life, take-away alcohol is banned both in town and on the beach. Loud music can only be blared during certain hours across much of the country, and in the southern region of Puglia, boaters risk a fine if they play music within 500 meters of the coast.
CNN
22 minutes ago
- CNN
Fed-up Italian farmers set up mountain turnstiles to charge access to Instagram hot spots
Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. If Carlo Zanella, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, had his way, travel influencers would be banned from the Dolomites. He blames them for the latest Italian social media trend, which has lured hundreds of thousands of tourists to the mountain range in northern Italy, with many traipsing across private land to get that perfect shot. In response to the influx, frustrated local farmers have set up turnstiles, where tourists must pay 5 euros (nearly $6) to access several 'Instagrammable' spots, including the Seceda and Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) mountain ranges. Photos showing lines of up to 4,000 people a day, have been popping up on social media in recent weeks. But rather than deter people from coming, the images have acted as a magnet. 'The media's been talking about the turnstiles, everyone's been talking about it,' says Zanella. 'And people go where everyone else goes. We're sheep.' Italian law mandates free access to natural parks, such as the Alps and Dolomites, but the landowners who set up the turnstiles say they have yet to receive any official pushback from authorities. Georg Rabanser, a former Italian national team snowboarder who owns land in a meadow on Seceda, told the Ladin-language magazine La Usc he and others started charging tourists to cross their land to make a point. 'So many people come through here every day, everyone goes through our properties and leaves trash,' he says. 'Ours was a cry for help. We expected a call from the provincial authorities. But nothing. We only read statements in the newspapers. Gossip; nothing concrete. We haven't even received warning letters. So we're moving forward.' Zanella, who says he avoids his once beloved alpine hiking trails during the summer months, supports the landowners charging admission to cross their property. He thinks the government should pay for the upkeep of the entrance system, likening the overtourism to Venice, where visitors have to pay a 10-euro entrance fee (around $12) on busy weekends. 'I would increase the price from 5 to 100 euros,' he tells CNN. 'And close the accounts of travel influencers.' Beyond the public nuisance of overcrowding, he fears the naivete of social media tourists puts them at risk. 'Once upon a time, those who came up to the mountains were prepared, dressed for the mountains, and came for hiking. Especially the Germans, who had maps and knew where to go. The Italians, on the other hand, set off, go, and take a cable car,' he says in a statement shared with CNN. 'Now I've seen people go up to Seceda with sun umbrellas and flip-flops and get stuck because the cable car closed and they hadn't checked the lift schedules (…) This isn't what the mountains should be,' he says. The local tourism body has petitioned authorities to close the turnstiles, insisting the issue is being overblown. The Santa Cristina Tourist Board, which oversees part of the area where the turnstiles have popped up, says they have hired four park rangers to ensure that tourists stay on the trails, don't cross the meadows and don't fly drones. 'Things have improved significantly,' Lukas Demetz, president of the Santa Cristina Tourist Board, said in a statement shared with CNN. 'And even the litter problem isn't as serious as people say. It's significantly reduced.' Still, across the Aosta Valley, parking lots have popped up to stop people from driving up the mountainside, and hikers are required to take the paid shuttle bus to Monte Rosa. At the Pian del Re peat bog in Piedmont, only 150 cars are allowed to park in the closest parking area to discourage visitors. Some regions, including Lake Braies, now charge 40 euros a car to access the area to try to deter people from coming in to take pictures. Arno Kompatscher, the governor of South Tyrol province, which includes part of the Dolomites range, has called on the national government to set restrictions to protect the fragile alpine ecosystems and dissuade local residents from renting out their chalets to tourists. The mountain residents aren't the only Italians clamping down on badly behaved visitors. Across the country, new ordinances have been a hallmark of the 2025 summer. Wearing just a swimsuit or going bare-chested in some Italian towns will attract more than a few looks. Semi-nudity could also land you a 500-euro fine — in the name of decorum. The Tuscan island of Elba and the Ligurian city of Diano Marina have both introduced summer ordinances that prohibit shirtless and swimsuit-only strutting — for both men and women — anywhere but the beach. And if your attire is deemed vulgar or 'indecent' in the eyes of any beholder, authorities can levy smaller fines starting at 25 euros. In Livorno, walking barefoot is prohibited. On Sardinian beaches, you'll get in trouble for digging holes for umbrellas, smoking, or lying on the sand without a mat. At the ever popular La Pelosa beach area, only 1,500 bathers are allowed at a time to prohibit overcrowding. In San Felice Circeo, a party town south of Rome where having an aperitivo on the beach is a way of life, take-away alcohol is banned both in town and on the beach. Loud music can only be blared during certain hours across much of the country, and in the southern region of Puglia, boaters risk a fine if they play music within 500 meters of the coast.
Condé Nast Traveler
an hour ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
Drift Hotel Nashville
Why book? With a prime location right across the street from the football stadium and tucked between downtown and East Nashville, this midcentury-modern property features an open-air design, vibrant guests, and local art. Set the scene Drift Hotel Nashville sits comfortably between the interstate, East Nashville, downtown, and the football stadium. Its physical location is a good representation of the kind of people the hotel attracts. Thanks to its lively pool scene (and easy-to-access daily pool passes), its lineup of live music, and its Instagram-worthy decor, it's a hotel where locals are just as likely to hang out as travelers. The hotel's proximity to Nissan Stadium also makes it a destination for football fans and concert-goers. Its central, accessible location (and parking lot) attracts tourists who want to explore beyond Lower Broadway. The backstory Since 1965, a hotel has stood on this corner. Rumor has it that Elvis Presley once stayed here. But times changed, and so did the city. After its Elvis prime, the building was converted to The Stadium Inn in honor of the nearby football stadium, and was infamous as a transient hotel that also hosted wrestling matches. In 2024, it reopened after a complete gut renovation, which preserved its midcentury-modern bones but completely overhauled everything else. Now, as Drift Nashville, it's part of Marriott's Design Hotels collection. The rooms Concrete columns (one of the only original features inside the hotel rooms) are sturdy frames for guest rooms with sleek wood beds alongside tile and art from local artists. Inside the five room types—king, one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom suites, and the penthouse—guests can expect minimalist, boho decor, and earth tones. Built for creatives, even the room numbers are fashioned from custom tapestries. Suites feature kitchenettes and separate lounge areas. It seems hard to believe, given the hotel's proximity to the interstate, but the windows have serious soundproofing: You won't need a white noise machine here to block out any sounds of traffic whizzing by. Food and drink Alexis Soler is one of Nashville's most innovative and intuitive hospitality pros. She created The Sun Room, an indoor and outdoor space that offers crafted cocktails, tinned fish, and other eats, and Poolside at Drift. Admire the terrazzo-flecked bar while sipping a cocktail made with fresh fruits. Dawn Café is where you'll grab coffee and seasonal drinks, such as a blueberry lavender latte. Even if you have other dinner plans, don't skip the opportunity to have a street food–style taco by the pool. The neighborhood/area While the Drift is convenient to many things, its location is more in a liminal space than a neighborhood. There aren't any coffee shops or boutiques on the block or across the street. The proximity to the stadium, downtown East Nashville, and Germantown is its calling card. The service The Drift is a limited-service hotel. You'll check in digitally or with someone at Dawn Café. You'll be responsible for getting your luggage to your room and back (there are carts, but no bellmen), and you'll park your own car. The service that is available, in The Sun Room and Poolside in particular, is welcoming and friendly. Staff clearly love the Drift and its vibe. Eco effort The brand uses energy-efficient heating and lighting, and only changes linens and towels when guests request to have their rooms tidied by housekeeping. Accessibility The hotel meets ADA standards. Anything left to mention? The rooftop patios from the penthouses are a tailgater's dream. If you're headed with a group to Nashville for an event at Nissan Stadium, this is where you want to splurge.
