The new maps are intended to clear up a misunderstanding that has existed for years. Many visitors believed they could only place their own umbrella in areas specifically marked for that purpose unless they rented a sunshade or sun lounger from a beach concession. However, there has never been a law requiring beachgoers to do so. The debate resurfaced after the president of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), José Pimenta Machado, described it as “an abuse” when concession holders prevented people from placing their own umbrellas in front of licensed beach facilities. Even after the APA issued guidance to concession operators, uncertainty remained, prompting the government to introduce the maps.

Each map will clearly identify four different types of beach areas. Concession zones are the parts of the beach where businesses provide services such as sun loungers and umbrellas for rent. Circulation areas must remain clear so people can move safely across the beach, while safety areas are reserved for emergency access and other essential activities. The remaining free areas are available for visitors who bring their own umbrellas or other beach equipment. Explaining the initiative, Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho said “it needs to be clear, and shown in a diagram at the entrance to the beach” where each type of zone begins and ends, as the layout can vary from one beach to another. Because every beach has a different layout, each location will have its own map to help visitors quickly understand where each zone begins and ends.

The measure comes as Portugal continues to welcome growing numbers of visitors. According to the Portuguese National Statistics Institute, the country received almost 30 million international tourists in 2025, an increase of 3.3% compared with the previous year. Although growth has started to slow, Portugal remains one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations, with the Algarve attracting large numbers of domestic and international travellers every summer. At the same time, the country has been working to improve how tourism is managed by encouraging year-round travel and promoting lesser-known destinations beyond traditional hotspots. Clearer organisation of public beaches forms part of that wider effort to improve the visitor experience while reducing pressure on popular locations.

The Algarve is known for its long sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and nature reserves such as the Ria Formosa, while the neighbouring Alentejo coast attracts travellers looking for quieter stretches of coastline. These regions have become increasingly popular not only with international visitors but also with Portuguese holidaymakers. As more people head to the beach during the summer months, misunderstandings over where visitors can sit have become more common. By displaying the rules in a simple visual format, authorities hope to reduce conflicts between beachgoers, concession operators and local councils before they arise.

Preparing the maps will be the responsibility of the municipalities where the beaches are located. Before they are installed, each map must also receive approval from both the Portuguese Environment Agency and the Maritime Authority to ensure the layouts comply with existing regulations. The government has asked local authorities to put the signs in place as quickly as possible because the bathing season is already underway. According to Minister Carvalho, municipalities support the initiative, as they are often the first to receive complaints when disagreements occur on the beach.

For travellers, the introduction of the maps does not mean new restrictions are being introduced. Existing rules remain unchanged, including the limit that concession areas may occupy no more than 30% of the usable beach or 50% of the beachfront. Safety and circulation areas must continue to remain clear, while the rest of the beach is available for public use. Visitors planning a beach day in Portugal will simply be able to check the map at the entrance and choose a suitable place with greater confidence, making the start of a day by the sea a little more straightforward.

L’article Portugal to introduce beach maps to clarify umbrella rules this summer est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Under the new dress code, tourists must cover up when entering shops, restaurants, churches, squares and other public areas. Swimwear and bare chests remain permitted on beaches, piers and boat docks. Those who break the rules face penalties ranging from €50 to €200.

The measure forms part of a broader attempt to manage the impact of mass tourism on Varenna, a former fishing village with a year-round population of roughly 650 people. Despite its small size, the destination now welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and has become one of Lake Como’s most sought-after tourist spots.

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Known for its colourful lakeside houses, historic architecture, botanical gardens and narrow pedestrian streets, Varenna has seen growing concerns about overcrowding, excessive noise and disruption to daily life. To ease the pressure, the municipality has also limited organised tourist groups to a maximum of 25 people.

Tour guides and group leaders are prohibited from using loudspeakers or other voice-amplification devices, while organised groups have been instructed not to block the village’s cobbled streets, historic alleyways or pedestrian walkways. The restrictions do not apply to school groups, educational visits or parish youth groups.

“Varenna is a wonderful village, and we are proud to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year,” Mayor Mauro Manzoni told The Guardian. “However, our residents’ quality of life cannot be sacrificed on the altar of mass tourism.”

The new rules appear to have been warmly received by many local residents and business owners. “On the beach, you can do what you want, but when you’re walking around and go into shops, restaurants, churches, or in the square, you must dress decently,” one shop owner told Italian broadcaster TGCom24. Another described the measure as overdue, adding that the key challenge would be ensuring it is properly enforced.

Varenna is far from the only Italian destination tightening its tourism regulations. In 2022, Sorrento introduced fines of between €25 and €500 for people walking around the town in swimwear or bare-chested, with the then mayor condemning what he described as “widespread indecorous behaviour”.

Other destinations have followed suit. Portofino introduced designated no-waiting areas and fines of up to €275 to discourage tourists from lingering in the village’s busiest spots, while Venice has capped organised tour groups at 25 people and banned guides from using loudspeakers.

As Italy continues to grapple with overtourism, more destinations are turning to dress codes, visitor limits, access fees and behavioural rules in an effort to preserve their historic centres while maintaining residents’ quality of life.

L’article Italian village bans bare chests and swimwear with fines of up to €200  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The proposal has reopened a long-running debate about the management of Italy’s beaches. Although much of the country’s coastline remains public, around one-third is managed through concessions granted to private beach clubs, known in Italy as lidos. These operators rent out sunbeds and umbrellas while also running restaurants, cafés and beach bars. While Italian law allows visitors to bring their own food and drinks, some beach clubs discourage or even prevent guests from entering with outside refreshments, arguing that they affect the quality of the services offered.

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Beach operators in Puglia have strongly opposed the governor’s proposal, saying it could negatively affect both businesses and the atmosphere on the beach. The regional branch of Assoturismo, which represents tourism operators, argues that allowing unrestricted picnics could lead to more litter and reduce the standards visitors expect from organised beach facilities. Nicola Ragno, president of Assoturismo in the town of Vieste, said the issue goes beyond people bringing a simple lunch. “It’s not about just a sandwich: some people think they can bring all sorts of food with them, starter, main, fruit, whole meals,” he said. Ragno added that “these situations can’t be tolerated because there are lots of other customers who don’t appreciate it.”

Decaro has rejected the argument that eating a homemade meal harms the image of beach resorts. Referring to criticism from some operators, he said they speak of a “damaged image” if someone chooses to eat “a sandwich or focaccia brought from home, in a private lido.” Focaccia is a traditional Italian flatbread that is particularly popular in Puglia and is often eaten as a snack or light meal. The governor argues that visitors should not feel obliged to buy food from beach restaurants simply because they are spending the day by the sea.

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Consumer organisations have also sided with the governor, pointing out that the beaches themselves remain public even when they are managed by private operators. Massimiliano Dona, president of the National Consumers Union, stressed that beach clubs cannot treat concession areas as private property. “Beaches are public areas managed by private operators; they are not private property,” he said. Dona also argued that visitors have the right to bring their own food and drinks and should not be forced to hand over picnic bags before entering a beach club. The dispute has therefore become not only a tourism issue but also a debate over consumer rights and the use of public spaces.

The discussion comes as Italy prepares for what is expected to be another record-breaking summer tourism season. According to figures released by Italy’s Ministry of Tourism, the country is forecast to achieve higher accommodation occupancy rates than both Spain and France during the summer of 2026. International visitor numbers have continued to grow during the first half of the year, with Puglia among the regions recording the strongest increases in foreign arrivals. As more travellers choose the region’s beaches for their holidays, questions about affordability, public access and the balance between visitors’ rights and business interests are becoming increasingly important.

The debate also coincides with rising costs for beach holidays across Italy. A recent survey by consumer organisation Altroconsumo found that the average price of renting sunbeds and umbrellas has increased by around 6% compared with last year and by almost a quarter over the past five years. For many families, bringing their own food can significantly reduce the cost of spending a day at the beach. That has turned what might seem like a simple discussion about picnics into a wider conversation about whether Italy’s coastline should remain accessible to everyone while continuing to support one of the country’s most important tourism industries.

L’article Italy’s Puglia faces backlash over plan to allow picnics on private beaches est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The restrictions came into force on 1 July and will remain in place throughout the month and into August. City authorities hope the initiative, dubbed “less traffic, more city,” will reduce vehicle entries into the UNESCO-listed Old Town by around 1,000 cars a day as visitors flock to one of Austria’s most popular tourist destinations.

Under the new rules, day-trippers arriving by car from outside the Salzburg region are no longer permitted to drive into the city’s historic centre. Instead, they are encouraged to use park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts of the city, where a €7.50 day ticket includes parking and unlimited public transport for up to five people. The parking areas are located close enough to the Old Town that some are within a 10-minute walk.

“We don’t want chaotic traffic situations like we saw last year,” Salzburg Mayor Bernhard Auinger said when announcing the measure in May. “It is aimed at day trippers who travel by car from farther afield. It is important to me that residents of the central Salzburg area and business-related traffic are not affected by this.”

Auinger said the restrictions would also improve the visitor experience by reducing long traffic delays. “It’s certainly much better than spending hours stuck in traffic. And it also makes life a lot easier for the people who live and work in the city of Salzburg,” he said.

The mayor said the decision followed growing complaints from residents about heavy summer traffic. Speaking to Salzburg24, he said: “We basically allowed tourists to drive into our sitting room.”

Police will enforce the restrictions, with drivers from outside the Salzburg region who enter the prohibited zone around the Staatsbrücke bridge facing fines of up to €80 unless they qualify for an exemption. Residents, commuters, delivery vehicles, taxis, rental cars, emergency services, disabled visitors and hotel guests with confirmed reservations remain exempt, as do motorists from the neighbouring Bavarian districts of Berchtesgaden and Bad Reichenhall in Germany.

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The policy follows similar traffic-control measures adopted in other European destinations struggling with overtourism. According to Heidi Strobl of Salzburg’s tourism board, the city drew inspiration from Italy’s limited traffic zones in cities such as Rome, Florence and Pisa, as well as restrictions introduced in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Salzburg, home to just over 158,000 residents, welcomes millions of visitors each year. The city recorded more than three million overnight stays annually, while international arrivals exceeded 1.8 million in 2025. Officials say the popularity of attractions such as Mozart’s birthplace and the continued appeal of The Sound of Music, which celebrated its 60^th anniversary last year, have contributed to rising visitor numbers and increased pressure on the city’s medieval streets.

L’article Salzburg restricts tourist cars in historic centre to ease summer traffic est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Following protests about overtourism on the islands, and months of debate about the creation of an ecotax ranging between €1 and €3.5 per night, a new scheme is on the table. The Canary Islands Tourism Regeneration and Nature Restoration Fund (REGNEXT) is an initiative from the Canary Islands government and UK Spanish Tourist Office, that “aims to make tourism a direct contributor to environmental restoration and community wellbeing through voluntary contributions,” a statement said. Officials explained that the financing system will be “voluntary, traceable, and transparent” and “allow resources to be directly and specifically allocated to regeneration projects.”

While some municipalities on the islands (such as Mogán on Gran Canaria, where a daily tourist tax of €0.15 per person, collected on hotel stays, is in place) have already introduced local fees to fund tourism services and infrastructure, the new scheme is intended to be different.

Coming into effect on Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, the idea is to enable visitors to make donations directly online to their chosen pilot schemes, with affordable housing, biodiversity, climate adaptation, conservation, habitat restoration, landscape improvement, and lowering emissions, all among the schemes supported by REGNEXT.

 A range of commercial travel stakeholders, such as easyJet holidays, Jet2.com, Jet2holidays and Tui, are lined up to support the venture. Describing the programme as turning tourism into “an active force for environmental and social regeneration,” Jessica de León, Minister of Tourism for the Canary Islands, said voluntary contributions from “visitors, businesses and climate foundations” would “ensure that part of the value tourism generates is reinvested directly into restoring ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience and improving the communities that make our destination so special.”

The Spanish tourist office noted that the initiative would protect the basic cost of a holiday for UK visitors but allow those who could afford to do so to give back to the places they love. It “offers a new way to support the destination they visit without increasing the cost of their holiday through a compulsory tax, while giving travel companies a transparent mechanism for investing in measurable environmental and social outcomes,” the office said.

Meanwhile, Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office UK, pointed to the circular nature of the scheme, saying it will provide a “tangible” way for visitors to “protect and restore natural spaces, reduce emissions, improve quality of life for residents and enhance the visitor experience.”

The Canaries are not the only destination taking an alternative “give back” approach to tourism levies. Copenhagen and Berlin have introduced reward schemes for visitors who take part in responsible tourism actions; Fiji has invited guests to give an hour of their vacation time to sustainable projects; and the “Mālama Hawaiʻi” programmebrings together “opportunities for visitors to pay it forward, like beach clean-ups, native tree planting, and more,” via the GoHawai‘i website which urges guests to “Engage in some of our volunteer opportunities … and in exchange, experience Hawaiʻi on a much deeper and connected level.”

L’article Canary Islands new voluntary tourist tax invites visitors to fund sustainability projects est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Mawlynnong in north-eastern India has only 600 residents and a single road in and out, but it welcomes thousands of visitors a year thanks to its reputation as India’s cleanest village, a title it earned over two decades ago and has proudly worn since. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Mawlynnong a special shout out launching his Clean India Mission campaign in 2014, noting: “It has become the habit of the residents to maintain cleanliness,” he said. “All this infuses confidence in us that our country will surely become clean through the efforts of fellow citizens.”

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The BBC describes “flower-lined lanes” and streets that are “spotless” thanks to children who rise early before school to deal with leaves and litter, while grown-up residents who have inherited Khasi bioengineering know-how take landscaping into their own hands. The pivot from a rural, agricultural economy saw a car park, tea stalls, and souvenir shops installed, residents spending money on concrete homes rather than grass houses, and, more recently, a social media feedback loop of Instagrammers and traveltokkers.

But in this church-influenced, matrilineal society, the sense of community is precious and has led the village to close its access road once a week—on its most lucrative day for tourism.

“Visitors are not allowed on Sunday”, a sign declares. “Villagers themselves politely turn away visitors”, writes Sunanda Singh in the Free Press Journal, pointing out that “Shops, cafes, and homestays now remain closed on Sundays, giving everyone, including cleaning staff, a much-needed day off.”

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Precious Khongdup, a committee member, told The Print the initiative helps to preserve cultural identity and discipline. “We have to have a break,” Khongdup said. “If we close one day from the tourists, then we can have real village life.”

And resident Festival Kharrymba, who collects a visitor fee of 30 rupees (€0.27) to cross the village’s large bamboo walkway, agrees. “It’s good for us. We have time to go to church, for service, for praying,” she added. “If tourists are here on Sunday, it’s a problem.”

It is perhaps no coincidence that the policy came about after viral social media footage showed litter in the streets, left behind by tourists who do not share the village’s values. That struggle to balance tourism revenues and visitors from diverse source markets with traditional “local” life and standards is also playing out elsewhere.

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Italy has perhaps seen more than its fair share of “antisocial” behaviour by guests, with, for example, Venice’s Mayor Luigi Brugnaro publicly lambasting tourists and parkourers who perform illegal stunts as “idiots” in 2022. Tourist incursions into fountains in Rome and bachelorette shenanigans in Florence have led to damage and fines. Meanwhile, in France, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, and Spain, guidance about nudity, littering, public partying, vehicle parking, and other aspects of local etiquette has had to be issued.

It is hard for capital cities and beach resorts to close at the weekend, but, like Mawlynnong, Ulva in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides is shutting on a Sunday from summer 2026. It has limited accessibility, via a five-minute ferry crossing from the Isle of Mull, as Travel Tomorrow has reported. “To give ourselves, the Boathouse and fellow islanders the chance to recharge and prepare for the week ahead, we have made the difficult decision not to open Sundays this summer,” the ferry operators confirmed in early June, effectively pausing tourism access once a week during the busiest months. Another spot that could learn from both Mawlynnong and Ulva is Vlkolínec, at the heart of Slovakia, where residents have demanded that UNESCO remove their historic hamlet from its World Heritage list to reduce the number of visitor arrivals, which annually outnumber locals by 7000-to-one. Such a drastic measure is not needed in Mawlynnong. Thanks to its day of rest, the north Indian treasure will not be demanding its reputation as India’s cleanest village is revoked any time soon.

L’article Overtourism forces India’s cleanest village to shut one day a week est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Every year, approximately 1.3 million tourists go on a guided boat tour through Bruges, also known as the Venice of the North. Most of the operators use speakers to provide visitors with information about the city’s history and culture. Yet tourists aren’t the only ones to catch the message.

@ciarainitaly Must do activity in Bruges Belgium such a great way to see the place! #belgium #bruges #belgio #thingstodoinbruges #thingstodoinbelgium #visitbelgium #visitbruges #boattour #europeansummer #irishabroad ♬ Up Beat (Married Life) – Kenyi

Locals, too, are hearing what the tourist guides are proclaiming, and they aren’t happy about it. According to the city council, many residents contact them by mail or phone in order to complain about the noise caused by the speakers on tourist boats.

This has led the city to announce a ban on the use of loudspeakers on boats as of 2029.

“This is an issue of balance and quality. We have held consultations with the relevant stakeholders and have sought to achieve the greatest possible consensus between the wishes of the city council, the interests of our residents and those of the ferry companies,” Minou Esquenet, Bruges’ alderwoman for Tourism, told the Belgian news agency Belga.

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Although the council has yet to approve the measure, the decision isn’t likely to be overturned and should thus go into effect in a little over two years.

“This will give boat operators sufficient time to adapt to the new conditions. They are also free to choose how they do so. A system using headsets – such as those already used successfully by guides on sightseeing walks – is an option, but not a requirement,” continued Esquenet.

Although many locals will undoubtedly question the city’s decision to only introduce the ban in 2029, the news hasn’t been received enthusiastically by the companies operating the boats.

“The noise levels are already very low. But the current limit of 65 decibels is outdated. That’s roughly equivalent to the sound of a toilet flushing. On a Saturday, we transport 1,700 people. Providing them all with a working headset with a fully charged battery? That’s going to be difficult. And what about children? And what if it rains? It’s not that simple. But if the city council approves this, we’ll have no choice but to go along with it,” said Michiel Michielsens of the boat company Venetië van het Noorden in a statement to Belgian news outlet VRT NWS.

However, the city will not just be banning loudspeakers. Starting from 2027, the five boat companies operating the tourist tours will be able to increase their ticket prices to €17 instead of €15 per person. According to Minou Esquenet, the companies were asking for such a measure in order to invest in their infrastructure and to meet the city’s demand of being 100% electric by 2028 – at the moment, 16 out of 20 boats have met that requirement. With 29% of the ticket sales going directly towards the city of Bruges, however, the increased ticket price will also benefit the local treasury.

L’article Bruges bans speakers on tourist boats from 2029 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The winners of the 2026 ICRT Europe Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by easyJet holidays, were announced during the event, celebrating organisations across Europe that have demonstrated practical approaches to making tourism more environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive and economically beneficial for local communities.

Projects from Spain, Türkiye, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Italy, Greece, Finland, Montenegro, Croatia and Poland were among those honoured across seven award categories.

“The judges were impressed by the quality and practicality of the initiatives entered this year. We saw tourism businesses and organisations demonstrating how tourism can actively restore ecosystems, strengthen local economies, celebrate cultural diversity and create opportunities for people who are often excluded,” said Harold Goodwin, founder of ICRT Global and chair of the judges. “Many of this year’s winners have developed approaches that can be replicated elsewhere, showing how responsible tourism can create lasting benefits for destinations and communities.”

“At easyJet holidays, we’re proud to support the ICRT Europe Responsible Tourism Awards because celebrating and sharing best practice is one of the most effective ways to drive meaningful impact across the industry,” said Matt Callaghan, chief operating officer at easyJet holidays. “These winners show what can be achieved when organisations put communities, culture and the environment at the heart of decision making. By recognising and showcasing their achievements, we’re reinforcing our commitment to supporting more businesses to learn from their success and continue raising standards across tourism.”

Among the gold award winners, TUI Forest Mallorca won the Adapting to Climate Change category for its work restoring forests, dune systems and wildlife habitats in Spain’s Península de Llevant Natural Park through a partnership with the Balearic Islands Government. The judges highlighted its combination of habitat restoration, biodiversity protection, visitor education and community engagement.

CAS Trips from the Czech Republic received the Championing Cultural Diversity award for educational travel programmes centred on local communities, while Unseen Tours in the United Kingdom won the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category for employing people with experience of homelessness as walking tour guides in London.

Italy’s Addiopizzo Travel received the Local Economic Benefit award for directing visitor spending towards businesses in Sicily that publicly refuse to pay Mafia protection money. Judges underscored its measurable impact in strengthening local economies and ensuring that tourism revenue remains within local communities through an ethical, vetted network of enterprises committed to social change.

Türkiye’s Club Marvy secured the Nature Positive award for integrating biodiversity conservation into its operations through habitat protection, marine conservation and species protection initiatives. Judges highlighted the resort’s comprehensive nature-positive approach and measurable progress in aligning hospitality operations with ecosystem restoration goals.

In the Regenerative Tourism category, TUI Field to Fork Greece was recognised for connecting farmers, food producers and tourism businesses to support regenerative agriculture across Crete and Rhodes.

Several projects also received silver awards and “One to Watch” recognition for initiatives ranging from fire resilience and climate adaptation to cultural heritage preservation, low-impact tourism and extending visitor seasons.

Adapting to Climate Change

• Silver: Paloma Grida, Turkey

Championing Cultural Diversity

• Silver: TUI Colourful Cultures Croatia (in partnership with DEŠA), Croatia
• One to Watch: Kameni otok – Journey Through Stone, Croatia

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Silver: Cyprus Environment Foundation, Cyprus

Local Economic Benefit

• One to Watch: Visit Gdańsk, Poland
• One to Watch: Zagreb County Tourist Board (Croatia) and Slovenia – InterWine

Nature Positive

• One to Watch: Mallorca SUP Company, Spain

Regenerative Tourism

• Silver: Camp Ilijin Vir, Montenegro
• Silver: Haltia Lake Lodge, Finland

The European gold winners will now compete against regional winners from Latin America, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and other regions for the Global Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board. The global winners will be announced in London in November.

L’article Responsible tourism champions honoured at Brussels awards ceremony est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The iconic lagoon destination has been making visitors pay an “access charge” if they come for the day only since 2025, when Venice became the world’s first major tourist destination to charge for entry. The five-euro levy applied to 29 peak season days that year and went up the following year to apply to 54 days, doubling for last-minute arrivals. In 2026, the fee is once again in operation, this year on 60 dates.

The Venice tourist fee is payable online, where visitors are given a QR code to pass through access points. Checkpoint staff have been deployed to verify visitor status. Overnight visitors, residents, under 14-year-olds, and a range of other visitors, including students and those entering the city for medical treatment, are exempt but must still register with the scheme.

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Although the scheme has generated significant income in excess of predictions, critics of the scheme, especially residents in the north-eastern Italian city, have said it makes their hometown feel like a theme park. They also note that the excess income is an indication that the programme has failed to deter the vast tourist numbers the city has been trying to manage since UNESCO warned that overtourism was posing a threat to its World Heritage architecture and culture.

While some say daytrippers and cruise arrivals do not contribute to the local economy in the same way as overnight guests, others argue that it is not daytrippers but overnight guests who clog the city’s narrow passages with wheelie suitcases and, as in other destinations worldwide, have pushed up housing prices by encouraging short-term rentals. Tourists have also been accused of crowding locals out of gondola transport.

But others note the daytripper fee is still in its early stages and must be given time to have an impact. Now, new mayor Venturini has weighed in, calling the fee “the only effective tool to control daily visitor numbers.” Under his scheme, visitors could be charged between €30 and €50 on high-season dates once pre-defined tourist limits have been exceeded.

It is not clear whether impact analyses have been carried out to determine whether such a regime would provide a perverse incentive for tourists to rush to book their visits. But Venturini says the extra income generated by higher charges would “finance city services and support the maintenance and protection of a unique city, built on water, whose costs exceed €100m each year.”

L’article Venice day tripper fee could cost as much as €50 under new mayor’s proposal est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) has been organising the Responsible Tourism Awards since 2004. Over the years, they have become known for identifying change makers who focus on making tourism better through evidence-based, replicable, and innovative initiatives.

Last year’s Responsible Tourism Awards’ ceremony took place at the Press Club Brussels Europe on 16 October 2025 and celebrated hotels, tour operators, and destinations which identified new benchmarks in responsible travel. Six categories in particular were highlighted during the event: local sourcing and creating shared value, waste management, nature-positive tourism, peace and inclusion, climate adaptation and resilience, and responsible all-inclusives.

In 2026, the Europe Responsible Tourism Awards presented by easyJet holidays will once again be presented at the Press Club Brussels Europe. The ceremony will take place on 23 June 2026 and for the first time, the Awards will be preceded by a Europe Responsible Tourism Forum. Presented by Paloma Hotel Group, the event will convene destination authorities, tourism businesses, NGOs, and policymakers for discussions examining issues such as policy changes in Europe and best practice in responsible tourism.

“We are delighted to welcome Paloma Hotel Group as sponsors of the new ICRT Europe Forum. Its commitment to sharing and encouraging best practice is exemplary and we look forward to a thought-provoking series of discussions,” said Debbie Hindle, chair of ICRT global.

Paloma Hotel Group is a family-owned hospitality company with more than 40 years of experience operating premium resorts and hotels across Türkiye and the Mediterranean, with an approach grounded in the belief that hospitality should enhance the wellbeing of the places where it operates, creating benefits for residents as well as guests. By bringing together senior leaders from across the tourism sector, the forum aims to become a concise, high impact event focused on delivering responsible tourism in Europe.

“We are deeply proud to support an event that champions responsible tourism. For us responsibility is not an add-on, it is central to how we operate, invest and grow. The ICRT Europe Forum provides an important opportunity to listen, learn, and engage with leaders who are confronting the sector’s most pressing challenges. We look forward to hearing from the panellists and speakers, and to exploring the issues and opportunities we can address collectively to ensure tourism creates lasting value for communities, nature and local economies,” stated Ece Tonbul, Paloma Hotel Group chairwoman and CEO.

After the Forum, the audience will be able to attend the unveiling of the winners of the 2026 ICRT Europe Responsible Tourism Awards presented by easyJet holidays. Six specific categories will be recognised during the evening: local economic benefit, diversity, equity, and inclusion, nature positive, championing cultural diversity, adapting climate to change, and regenerative tourism.

The first edition of the Europe Responsible Tourism Forum, which is free to attend, and the Awards will be opened by António Buscardini, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travel Tomorrow and President of the Press Club Brussels Europe. Registrations will start at 4:30 pm on 23 June 2026.

While the entries for the Europe Responsible Tourism Awards are closed at the time of writing, entries for the ICRT Responsible Tourism Awards Worldwide remain open until 30 June 2026. The winners will be announced during a Virtual Awards Event in August 2026.

L’article Europe Responsible Tourism Forum and Awards return to Brussels est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.