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Credit: SHOTPRIME via Canva.com. UK holidaymaker with passport and suitcase. Credit: SHOTPRIME via Canva.com
British tourists are the most visible and loyal of all visitors to the UK. The sunbeds on Mallorca. The pint nights at Benidorm. Queuing in front of the Colosseum. There are some changes, mostly in the tone and rules of the country, as well as the way British tourists are treated. If you are planning to visit Spain or Italy in the summer of 2025 and you don’t know what has changed, you could be fined or even get an uncomfortable stare from the check-in clerk.
What’s the cause of the backlash?
In Italy, the mayor of Portofino has reintroduced fines of up to €275 for loitering near selfie hotspots. On busy days, tourists in Venice must pay an entrance fee. In Spain, hotspots like Barcelona, Palma, and Málaga are cracking down on illegal rentals and late-night noise, and British tourists are often in the spotlight.
The tone and enforcement have changed since 2025. Local councils aren’t just complaining — they’re acting:
- New tourist taxes in Spain, Italy There is a ramp-up (Mallorca tests tiered pricing).
- The laws against loud groups and street drinking The enforcement of spot fines (especially in the vicinity of cathedrals and city centres) is being done.
- Zero tolerance for ‘bad behaviour tourism’ Municipal plans now include this information, particularly during high-season months such as July and August.
UK holiday surge
British travellers arrive in southern Europe at record numbers. According to tourism boards and airlines, 2025 is expected to be one the busiest years ever for Spain and Italy. The UK will play a key role in this boom.
- The World Travel and Tourism Council expects Spain’s tourism income to reach €313 billion, with British tourists again forming the largest national group.
- The pattern in Italy is similar to Rome and Venice. Not only are guided tours and cruise stops popular, but British families also flock to the countryside and the coast.
Financial Times says that there is a change in travel habits, with people making more flexible plans and taking fewer holidays. British tourists book fast, travel light, and expect digital convenience, as well as minimal limitations.
- The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us BarcelonaResidents marched through the Gothic Quarter early in July with banners and chanting, demanding limits to the tourism period.
- The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us VeniceWater pistol-wielding activists protested and soaked visitors.
- The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us LisbonThe locals staged sit ins outside short term lets accusing city leaders for selling out neighbourhoods.
You’re about to learn more Housing shortages, Price increasesThere is a feeling that the local culture is being squeezed. There are unregulated Airbnb rentals and official data shows that long-term rental stocks have fallen, while tourist rentals are on the rise, pricing out young residents.
The increase in UK travelers alongside German, Dutch, French and holidaymakers The hotspots in Spain and Italy have become open-air terminals.
Travellers to the UK: Tips and tricks
What can you do to engage travellers with this information?
Start by checking the rules before you land — that includes tourist taxes, noise curfews, beach bans, and fines for public drinking or unlicensed rentals. This could save you money or headaches.
SecondConsider Avoiding the obvious hotspots. Places like San Sebastián, Girona, Matera or Trieste still offer stunning food, culture and views — just without the crowds or tension that’s bubbling up in major cities.
Then,, Locals are more aware of tourists as they travel. It’s not about tiptoeing around locals— it’s about showing the kind of care that keeps these places open to future travellers, too.
