9 New Bans for Tourists That Can Make Your Life Way Harder

Every year, traveling is becoming more and more affordable: plane tickets are getting cheaper, and so are hotels and tours. But do we ever think about how the locals feel when the streets are packed with visitors? Not all tourists are polite and willing to respect the traditions and historical values of a different country.

Bright Side didn’t have to spend a lot of time looking for proof that the world is a little tired of tourists. New bans and limitations speak for themselves.

1. Tourists “for just one day” in Venice will have to pay a tax.

The local people from this ancient city are tired of the tourist crowds: they literally block the streets and locals can’t get to work or home after a working day. This is why, since May 1, you will have to pay money for entering the city. The tourists who come to Venice to swim in a gondola will have to pay $3. Everyone who tries to avoid paying will pay a fine of $450. These rules only work for tourists who decide to save money on the hotel and only come to the city for one day (the people who are staying at hotels will already have paid the tax).

2. On the beaches in the Philippines, it’s prohibited to smoke, eat, and build sand castles.

The authorities of the Philippines had to close down the beaches of Boracay Island for 6 months to do a cleaning. It cost almost $20 million to clean the sand and the water from all the trash. Now they’re ready to let tourists in again but not in such a great number and only if they don’t harm nature. On the beaches, it’s strictly prohibited to smoke, drink alcohol, or even eat. And the natural landscapes should remain as they are, which means that children can’t build sand castles.

3. In Thailand, you will be fined for using plastic bags.

On Island Ko Samet in Thailand, you can’t use plastic bags or containers. If you break this rule, you will pay a fine. The new limitations were set because the poor island was incredibly trashed. Almost 1,500 tourists come there every day. After they leave, the national parks are full of different packages, bottles, and other trash.

4. In Bali, walking in a bikini might be banned soon.

The people from this Indonesian island complain about tourists who walk around in swimsuits and take photos of themselves in front of temples. So, at the of 2018, the local authorities seriously considered prohibiting wearing bikinis and limiting the access of sacred places to tourists.

5. In Russia, the number of hostels will be reduced.

In 2018, a huge number of hostels were opened in Russia. And most of them are in regular city apartments: inventive hosts put more beds in the rooms and started renting them. Neighbors have to put up with constant noise and a lot of unfamiliar people. But in 2019, hostels in apartment buildings will most likely be illegal. What will this mean for visitors? They will have to book rooms in legal hostels.

6. Only 300 people per year will be allowed to climb Mt. Everest.

In 2019 and the following years, you will be able to climb Mt. Everest only in spring. Also, there are limitations for the number of climbers — not more than 300 people per year. This decision was made after the local authorities had to clean the mountain: in 2018, around 8.4 tons of trash and excrement were collected on the mountain. Now there will be dumpsters and toilets present.

7. In The Netherlands, cyclists are not allowed to speak on the phone.

The visitors who are used to renting bicycles will have to stop talking on the phone while riding. If they don’t, they may have to pay a fine of $250. Before in the Netherlands, it was illegal to talk while driving a car but since July 2019, the same law will apply for cyclists. The reason is simple: the number of accidents has increased.

8. In Florence, tourists can’t eat or rest in the street.

This city is visited by more than 10 million people from different countries every year. Before, there was no place in Florence where there were no tired tourists resting and eating sandwiches. The city authorities decided that this behavior had a negative influence on the look of Florence and since 2018 it has been illegal to sit on stairs and eat outside. This law only applies for 4 streets downtown and if you break this law, you will have to pay $500.

9. In Rome, tourist buses are limited and the historical sites are watched more carefully.

Since January 2019, the center of the Italian capital has been closed for tourist buses. This was made in order to protect the historical legacy and reduce the noise and air pollution levels. Also, the authorities of Rome will make the punishment for vandals harsher for such things as taking pieces of Colosseum walls or for washing one’s legs in fountains.

Good news: In Paris, the rules for tourists have become softer.

The local parks have always had very strict rules. Only in 77 out of 490 of them is it okay to ride a bicycle, play with a ball, and have picnics. Now, Parisians and tourists are allowed to do this almost everywhere. But there are still some parks where you can only sit on a bench and read a book. So, if you are going to Paris, ask the locals about the rules when you are in certain parks.

Do you think that these bans and limitations are fair? Or do you think that some countries tried too hard?