Home » Latest Travel News » France Unites Italy, Portugal, and Spain Set Historic, Unprecedented Tourism Crackdown and Tourists Must Pay the Price for Destroying Natural Resources: What You Need to Know
Published on
December 2, 2025
Overtourism has left visible scars on Europe’s most beautiful landscapes. Coastal dunes have eroded under millions of footsteps, ancient pine forests are struggling against soil compaction and rare marine habitats are stressed by uncontrolled traffic. Conscious of these threats, authorities in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain have implemented strict protocols that make visitors responsible for protecting fragile ecosystems. These measures range from quotas and permits to fines and behavioural codes. They represent a shift from unfettered access to responsible tourism where visitors must prove their respect for nature or risk being turned away or penalised.
France – Reservations to Protect the Calanques
On France’s Mediterranean coast, Calanques National Park near Marseille has become a symbol of the country’s efforts to manage fragile sites. The park’s famous inlet at Sugiton was once overwhelmed by hikers seeking turquoise coves. Years of footfall compacted soil and destabilised slopes; park rangers observed that ground loss threatened the pine forests and younger plants. To halt the erosion, the park introduced a reservation system covering specific weekends in June and September and every day from late June to 31 August. Bookings are free but mandatory and must be made a few days in advance; groups larger than five are not accepted and visitors must carry their reservation when entering. The park’s website explains that limiting daily numbers slows down erosion and allows natural vegetation to recover[1]. It also emphasises that the reservation is a preventative measure rather than an exclusive privilege, and encourages visitors to view themselves as partners in conservation rather than consumers.
Within the Calanques, other longstanding rules ban camping, fires, smoking and off‑trail excursions. Rangers patrol the trails, issue warnings and can fine those who ignore restrictions. These measures reflect a broader trend in France where access to sensitive mountain passes or coastal reserves is increasingly regulated. By equipping visitors with knowledge and placing limits on numbers, authorities shift the burden of care onto tourists and ensure that natural beauty can be enjoyed without being destroyed.
Italy – Fines for Sand Theft and Strict Beach Rules
Italy’s coastline offers some of Europe’s most scenic beaches, but it also suffers from theft of sand and pebbles as souvenirs. On the island of Sardinia, taking sand, pebbles or shells is illegal. A campaign supported by airport authorities warns departing tourists that they could be fined €500 to €3,000 under regional law if caught with sand in their luggage[2]. This law reflects a growing recognition that even small acts can collectively degrade beaches. Airport staff display confiscated bottles of sand to dissuade would‑be collectors and highlight the seriousness of the offence.
At La Pelosa beach in Stintino, the local municipality has adopted a detailed regulation to protect its shallow turquoise bay and fragile dune system. The rules forbid parking on the beach and bar motor vehicles from transiting near the shoreline[3]. Visitors are prohibited from littering, lighting fires without authorisation, fishing in bathing zones, camping overnight or digging holes in the sand. The regulation also prohibits removing any natural element—including sand, stones, shells and plants—and forbids soap or shampoo use in the sea[4]. Municipal police and authorised agents are empowered to enforce the rules. This formalised approach does not just ask visitors to behave; it stipulates what is unacceptable and attaches penalties.
These local actions are complemented by broader national initiatives. Venice has introduced a day‑visitor fee to manage crowds, and popular hiking trails like those in Cinque Terre limit daily numbers during peak season. Italy’s approach combines education, fines and limiting access, with an emphasis on the idea that visitors must respect the cultural and natural heritage they enjoy.
Portugal – Quotas, Permits and a Code of Conduct
Portugal has married visitor management with environmental education. On the small Berlenga Grande Island off the coast of Peniche, the government introduced an access fee and mandatory online registration. The island’s ecosystems have a limited carrying capacity, so only 550 people may be present on the island at any time[5]. Visitors must register through the BerlengasPass platform and pay a modest fee; the revenue funds conservation projects and infrastructure maintenance. The measure is enshrined in national regulations that recognise that without intervention, the island’s biodiversity could be irreversibly damaged. Signage on the island urges visitors to stick to marked trails, avoid disturbing nesting seabirds and take all waste back to the mainland.
Beyond individual sites, Portugal’s Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) has produced a Code of Conduct for Protected Areas. The guide reminds visitors that their presence has an impact and outlines responsibilities: travellers must carry out all their waste and deposit it in appropriate locations; they should report irregularities to authorities; respect local customs; keep noise down; and avoid picking plants or geological specimens[6]. Hikers are instructed to stay on marked trails, not to start fires or disturb wildlife, and to use designated picnic and camping areas. Recreational activities are only allowed in authorised zones. By formalising these expectations, Portugal makes visitors accountable for preserving natural heritage across national parks and reserves, not just at one or two popular spots.
Spain – Traffic Caps and Authorisation Systems
Spain has confronted overtourism by instituting strict visitor limits on islands and national parks. On Formentera, the smallest of the Balearic Islands, the Consell de Formentera introduced groundbreaking legislation to regulate vehicle traffic. Officials observed that during July and August, the island’s population triples and the number of cars multiplies. To maintain environmental and economic stability, they capped the number of motor vehicles permitted to enter, drive and park during the high season (1 June to 30 September). The limit for 2025 is 10,287 vehicles, which is 16 % lower than the previous year[7]. The regulation specifies different quotas for cars and motorcycles belonging to visitors, residents or rental companies[8]. Quads and caravans are entirely banned because they damage unpaved roads and camping is prohibited[9].
Visitors who wish to bring a vehicle must apply for a permit through a dedicated portal. Fees range from €6 per day in June and September to €9 per day in July and August for cars, with half‑price rates for motorcycles and discounts for hybrid vehicles[10]. Electric vehicles, residents of the Balearic Islands and people with reduced mobility are exempt from the fee[11]. The vehicle’s license plate serves as a badge and is used for tracking compliance; once quotas are reached no more permits are issued[12]. By linking access to a licence plate and imposing fees, Formentera turns environmental stewardship into an enforceable obligation.
Further north, the Atlantic Islands National Park of Galicia manages four island groups — Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada — through an authorisation system. High‑season visitors (Easter and 15 May to 15 September) must obtain prior permission from the Xunta de Galicia before purchasing ferry tickets[13]. The park restricts the daily number of day visitors, campers and boat anchorages to reduce pressure on sensitive habitats[14]. Regulations explicitly ban lighting fires, leaving behind waste, entering prohibited areas, disturbing or harming wildlife, uprooting vegetation and collecting shells or other geological elements[15]. Visitors cannot bring motor vehicles, and only pedestrian traffic is allowed on trails[16]. Even filming or flying drones requires prior authorization[17]. These rules, published on the park’s official website, underscore that the islands are conserved for the public good and that enjoyment must not come at the environment’s expense.
From the limestone cliffs of the Calanques to the quiet dunes of La Pelosa, the Berlengas seabird colonies and the pine‑scented trails of the Cíes Islands, Europe’s southwestern nations are redefining tourism around responsibility. France is pioneering reservation systems that limit numbers and give fragile ecosystems breathing space. Italy fines those who pocket sand and enforces strict beach bylaws. Portugal issues permits and educates visitors through a code of conduct that stresses personal responsibility. Spain caps vehicle numbers on Formentera and requires authorisation for entry to its Atlantic islands, coupled with detailed bans on harmful activities.
These measures are more than bureaucratic hurdles; they represent an ethical shift that acknowledges nature’s limits. By placing clear obligations on visitors and reserving the right to deny access or levy fines, authorities are ensuring that natural resources remain intact for future generations. Travellers, in turn, are encouraged to see themselves as custodians rather than consumers. As more destinations implement similar protocols, sustainable tourism will become the norm rather than the exception, proving that enjoyment of nature can coexist with its preservation.
Reference List
- Parc national des Calanques article on limiting visitors to Sugiton and Pierres Tombées; describes erosion and free reservation system[1][18].
- Stintino municipal regulation on beach use and shoreline; lists prohibitions (vehicles, fires, fishing, camping, removing natural elements) and enforcement by municipal police[3][4].
- Sardinia airport article (SOGAER) on “furti di sabbia” campaign; warns that removing sand and pebbles from beaches is illegal and punishable by fines of 500–3,000 euros under regional law[2].
- Natural.PT article on Berlenga island; explains access fee and mandatory registration with a maximum of 550 visitors to protect ecosystems[5].
- ICNF Code of Conduct for Protected Areas; outlines visitor responsibilities such as taking waste home, respecting local customs, staying on trails, not picking plants and avoiding noise[6].
- Formentera Council (formentera.eco) information page on regulating vehicle flow; details objectives, quotas, period of application, vehicle categories, restrictions on quads and caravans, and fees for permits[19].
- Formentera Council page also notes that license plates are used for tracking compliance and lists exempt categories such as electric vehicles and residents[20].
- Xunta de Galicia “Authorizations and regulations” page for the Atlantic Islands National Park; states that visitors to Cíes or Ons during Easter and mid‑May to mid‑September need prior authorization, and enumerates prohibited activities including fires, littering, disturbing wildlife, collecting shells and bringing motor vehicles[21].
