From Venice to Rwanda: How Destinations Like Machu Picchu, Bali, and Santorini Are Charging Tourists to Save Their Iconic Sites!

Published on December 26, 2025

As global tourism rebounds and visitor numbers surpass pre-pandemic levels, many popular destinations are grappling with a significant challenge—how to preserve their cultural heritage, natural environments, and local communities amid overwhelming visitor numbers. From historic cities in Europe to fragile ecosystems in Asia and Africa, overtourism is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. However, a new approach—charging tourists to access these destinations—is gaining global traction as a sustainable solution.

Once a controversial idea, the implementation of entry fees, conservation levies, permits, and visitor caps has now become mainstream policy. At least 25 destinations worldwide have adopted such measures to control overcrowding, protect resources, and ensure that tourism benefits both the local population and the environment. This shift marks a significant move from open access to managed access, with tourism revenue being reinvested into the preservation of these areas.

Europe: Historic Icons Under Pressure

Europe’s most iconic cities and tourist destinations were among the first to take action in response to overtourism, especially in popular spots that attract high numbers of day-trippers and cruise passengers. Cities such as Venice, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain, have faced significant pressure due to overcrowding, particularly during peak tourist seasons.

Venice, one of the most visited cities in the world, has introduced a day-tripper entry fee to help manage the flow of tourists. The initiative aims to limit the number of visitors at any given time, particularly those arriving on cruise ships, who are often blamed for the overcrowding of the city. Similarly, Dubrovnik, Croatia, has implemented cruise caps and monitored entry into the Old Town, while Cinque Terre, Italy, has introduced a paid trail access system via the Cinque Terre Card to manage visitors and protect the environment.

In Santorini, Greece, cruise passenger limits and port fees have been introduced, and Barcelona now charges a city tourist tax while also enforcing paid access to Park Güell, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has implemented Europe’s highest tourist and cruise taxes, which contribute to managing the influx of visitors while funding local infrastructure projects.

These European destinations share a common goal: to discourage high-volume, low-value tourism while reinvesting the revenue generated from tourism into local heritage protection and improving the quality of life for residents. The idea is to create a more sustainable tourism model that ensures both the preservation of cultural sites and a better experience for visitors and locals alike.

Asia & the Pacific: When Nature Sets the Limits

In Asia, tourism fees are often linked to environmental preservation, with many destinations relying on strict visitor caps and conservation fees to protect their fragile ecosystems. Bhutan, for example, has long operated on a high-value, low-volume tourism model, requiring tourists to pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee. This fee helps preserve the country’s natural and cultural heritage while limiting the number of visitors.

Bali, Indonesia, introduced an island-wide tourist levy to address the strain on its infrastructure and environment caused by mass tourism. In the Philippines, Boracay has implemented environmental fees and capped accommodation to reduce the impact of tourism on its ecosystem. Maya Bay in Thailand, once closed due to the environmental damage caused by excessive tourism, now has strict visitor caps and access fees to protect its fragile marine environment.

In Japan, Mount Fuji charges climbing fees and enforces seasonal quotas to limit the environmental impact of its growing number of climbers. New Zealand, known for its stunning landscapes, introduced premium hut and trail fees for international visitors on its Great Walks to manage tourist flow and fund conservation efforts.

The synergy between these destinations is clear: fees are paired with quotas, timed entry, and digital reservations to manage visitor numbers. The primary goal is to protect fragile ecosystems from the destructive effects of mass tourism, ensuring that nature can continue to thrive without being overwhelmed.

The Americas: Heritage and Conservation Through Control

In the Americas, some of the most iconic sites have also adopted paid, regulated access to preserve their heritage and fund conservation efforts. Peru’s Machu Picchu, one of the world’s most visited cultural landmarks, has introduced timed entry and mandatory guides, along with daily visitor caps. These measures help reduce the impact of overcrowding and ensure that the site’s integrity is maintained for future generations.

The Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, a UNESCO World Heritage site, charges national park entrance fees that fund conservation initiatives aimed at protecting its unique wildlife and delicate ecosystems. In Hawaii, USA, entry fees are charged for national parks, and reservations are required for certain sites, while a proposed “green fee” aims to further support sustainable tourism practices.

These destinations treat access as a privilege, not a right. By charging fees and regulating entry, they ensure that tourism contributes directly to conservation and visitor management, funding infrastructure improvements and environmental protection.

Africa: High-Value Tourism as a Conservation Strategy

Africa has long used pricing as a tool to fund conservation efforts, especially in regions where wildlife tourism plays a key role in the economy. Rwanda, for instance, has introduced high-value gorilla trekking permits, which not only limit the number of visitors to its protected areas but also generate significant revenue that is reinvested into conservation and local community development. Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area charges access fees for the crater, and South Africa offers tiered fees for domestic and international visitors to its national parks, ensuring that funds are directed toward wildlife protection.

Seychelles charges island access fees and levies on marine parks to fund conservation and maintain its fragile coral reefs. Egypt, too, has implemented controlled entry fees at major heritage sites such as the Pyramids of Giza and Luxor to preserve these cultural treasures for future generations.

In Africa, tourism fees are not just about limiting numbers; they are about creating sustainable systems that benefit both wildlife protection and local communities. By using tourism revenue to fund conservation, these countries ensure that tourism is aligned with national priorities and contributes to the long-term preservation of their natural and cultural heritage.

The Global Shift to Managed Access

As tourism continues to grow globally, the need for responsible management has never been more urgent. The implementation of fees, visitor caps, and digital systems to manage flow marks a significant shift from the traditional model of open access to one of managed access. This shift ensures that the benefits of tourism are shared more equitably, with revenue reinvested into the protection of cultural and natural resources, as well as the improvement of local infrastructure and quality of life.

The global message is clear: tourism must pay for its impact. By prioritizing value over volume, destinations are taking steps to ensure that tourism can continue to thrive while minimizing its negative effects. The lesson for the future is that managing tourism early is far easier than trying to repair the damage caused by unchecked visitor numbers.

As the tourism industry enters a new era, success will no longer be measured by how many tourists arrive, but by how well destinations can endure and remain sustainable in the face of increasing global travel.