FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
From Machu Picchu in Peru to Mount Fuji in Japan and Europe's most visited cities, authorities around the world are taking increasingly strong measures to cope with the phenomenon of mass tourism.
The new management plan for Machu Picchu places the famous archaeological site at the center of a global effort to limit tourist overcrowding through taxes, visitor number restrictions and stricter access rules.
In general, countries facing large tourist influxes are pursuing two main strategies. The first is to impose tourist taxes, which are usually added to the price of accommodation and are used to manage destinations. The second strategy is to limit the number of visitors allowed into certain areas at one time.
In many cases, these measures are combined with other initiatives aimed at better distributing tourists, encouraging them to stay longer or visit less popular areas.
Japan faces tourism pressure
Japan is one of the countries feeling the effects of the surge in tourist arrivals. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the country welcomed more than 3.6 million international visitors in March 2026 alone, a 3.5% increase from the previous year.
One of the most notable measures has been imposed on Mount Fuji. Authorities have limited the number of climbers on the Yoshida Trail to 4,000 people per day, while the entrance fee has been increased from 1,000 to 4,000 yen.
A black wall has even been erected in the town of Fujikawaguchiko to prevent tourists from crowding the area just to take pictures with Mount Fuji in the background.
Meanwhile, the city of Fujiyoshida canceled its traditional cherry blossom festival to reduce the influx of around 200,000 visitors who arrive each year during this period.
Kyoto is also tightening the rules. Starting in 2026, the city will impose the highest tourist tax in Japan, which could reach up to 10,000 yen, or about $63 per night.
Europe chooses taxes and restrictions
Even in Europe, many destinations are taking similar measures.
From July 2026, Edinburgh will become the first city in Scotland to introduce a visitor tax. Tourists will pay an additional 5% on top of the price of accommodation for the first five nights of their stay.
Barcelona, one of the most visited cities in Europe, will double its tourist tax from April 1, 2026. Visitors will pay up to 15 euros per night, a measure aimed at financing affordable accommodation and limiting the number of tourists.
In Italy, Venice continues to charge an entrance fee for day visitors, while in Greece, the island of Santorini has set a limit of 8,000 cruise ship passengers per day.
Machu Picchu towards a more sustainable model
The Peruvian government has recently approved a management plan for Machu Picchu until 2031. The document provides for stricter controls for visitors, clearly defined itineraries, measures to protect cultural and natural heritage, and greater involvement of local communities.
The plan is considered particularly important because of the Chinchero international airport, which is expected to begin operations in 2027 and could bring a significant increase in the number of tourists.
Heder Quispe Puente de la Vega, founder of the Machu Travel Peru travel agency, which operates with small groups of tourists, calls the plan a necessary step.
According to him, Machu Picchu will be visited in a more organized way, with less congestion and with more respect for the cultural and natural heritage of the area.
Another objective of the strategy is to direct tourists to the Sacred Valley and other surrounding regions, better distributing economic benefits and reducing pressure on the archaeological site itself.
“This plan confirms what responsible tourism operators have been advocating for years,” says Quispe.
Jo, jo, jo, aresyeja e vertete eshte ndalimi i grumbullimit te masave ne sasira te medha. Qe para fillimit te shekullit te ri filloi rritja drastike e cmimeve te pijeve alkoolike, kafes e produkteve qe konsumohen neper bare e lokale. Pastaj filloi orari i reduktuar i lokaleve, se gjoja behet zhurme e shqetesohen banoret. Ua gjeten koken njerezve e u rrasen celularet ku cdo klik, preference e bisede eshte e regjistruar. Kane filluar njerezit te thone shush kur hap gojen per politike se kane frike te flasin hapur. Sot mbizoteron nje heshtje absolute ne vende publike qe ne autobus, ne pune, shkolle, me fqonjet e kudo, sepse ta kendojne kengen e humbet punen, shkollen, shendetin per mendje qe ke. Le qe ua kane thare trurin njerezve qe te vegjel ne shkolla e i orientojne drejt kotesise e bindjes. Populli, populli, populli eshte armiku i cdo sistemi. Po u kethye populli ne bageti e ia kushtezon ushqimin e jeten vetem baa di te beje e asgje, kaq.