Environmental and regulatory policies in Europe's most visited tourist destinations: A mapping framework

Overtourism is a growing environmental and governmental challenge for European destinations, with significant ecological, social, and economic impacts. Following the post-pandemic comeback of international travel, many tourist destinations have experienced rapid growth in visitor numbers, often without effective government regulation. This study examines the policies implemented by the ten most popular countries and the twenty most visited cities in Europe to address overtourism, focusing on environmental regulations and policy effectiveness. The research methodology involved reviewing official national websites, government documents, and other credible sources, including EU legislation and grey literature, to assess the presence and impact of overtourism policies. The research revealed a complex regulatory landscape across Europe, with varying degrees of success in addressing overtourism's environmental consequences. While some cities, like Venice and Amsterdam, have implemented innovative measures such as visitor fees and rental limits, many countries lack comprehensive national legislation. Countries with higher tourism-dependent economies tend to adopt softer, promotional measures, while those with lower dependence are more likely to implement restrictive environmental policies. Key issues identified include increased carbon emissions, damage to UNESCO heritage sites, and the consumption of resources. The study focuses on the need for a cohesive European regulatory framework to improve tourism management across Europe, integrating environmental sustainability, tourist management, and local community interests. The research highlights areas for future exploration, including cross-national comparisons, multilingual policy analysis, and the inclusion of environmental impact data in regulatory assessments, to guide the development of more effective solutions for overtourism.