Bruges implements guidelines to deal with overtourism « Costa Spain News

Bruges is becoming a member of the European international locations cracking down on overtourism by addressing short-term vacation leases and cruise ships.

Bruges, in Belgium, is a UNESCO World Heritage Metropolis – with its famed cobbled streets, canals and medieval structure – and a vacationer hotspot recording greater than 8.3 million guests in 2023.

However a metropolis of fewer than 120,000 residents has now fallen sufferer to overtourism and the lasting results it has.

Bruges in Belgium is dealing with points resulting from overtourism

The Mayor of Bruges, Dirk De fauw not too long ago spoke on this matter, stating “Folks have began indicating that there are simply too many guests”.

“If we simply let everybody do what they need, issues will rapidly go fallacious,” stated the mayor, giving hope to the locals that somebody will probably be executed. 

Bruges implements new guidelines and laws to deal with overtourism

In response to this subject, town has carried out a ban on the development of latest accommodations, particularly in its historic centre, along with stopping the issuing of latest vacation residence permits throughout your complete metropolis.

The residents of Bruges hope that these new restrictions will assist to revive stability between vacationers and residents, to allow them to share the great thing about town with out overcrowding it.

Bruges isn’t the one European metropolis to fight the destructive results of tourism. Earlier this 12 months, Barcelona introduced a citywide ban on short-term leases by 2029 and continues to boost its vacationer tax.

Bruges addresses short-term guests and “day-trippers”

One other subject Bruges faces is “day-trippers”; one-day guests can simply entry Bruges by its harbour, very similar to Venice.

Though this subject for town is much like short-term leases, the choices for an answer isn’t the identical.

In Venice, town launched a day-tripper price, or vacationer tax, to assist assist town and its residents, and assist cut back overcrowding. 

Bruges guidelines out tourist-tax not like Venice or Barcelona

Dirk De fauw, nonetheless, dominated this feature out completely for Bruges, stating “We can not and don’t need to management entry to town, like Dubrovnik or Venice.”

This doesn’t imply nothing is being executed on the matter. In 2019, limits had been positioned on cruise ships docking in Bruges, with a most of two per day, down from 5. 

In an effort to stop extra guests from coming, native authorities additionally pulled adverts for the historic metropolis at Brussels airport.

The mayor emphasised the significance of valuing town and what it gives outdoors of tourism; “We need to preserve Bruges a metropolis with actions past tourism.”