In 2025, the basic assumptions of travel in Europe have begun to change dramatically. Areas that were once treated as implicit understandings—immigration procedures at airports, rules for staying in cities, and even expected behavior from tourists—are now being explicitly redesigned as formal systems.

The EU’s introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), along with travel authorization systems like ETIAS, rising tourist taxes, stricter regulations on short-term rentals, and even measures that directly restrict and penalize tourist behavior, are all expanding.

These changes are not simply about “cracking down on tourists.” They are also attempts to reassess the impact of tourism on local communities and shift toward a more sustainable model.

This article organizes the evolving travel rules in Europe and examines their implications and challenges for Japan’s tourism policy.

Major Changes in European Travel Rules

One symbolic example is the EES, which the EU is introducing. Replacing traditional passport stamps, this system records and manages the entry and exit of non-EU travelers using biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints.

The goal is to modernize border control and curb illegal stays and cross-border crime within the EU, where internal movement is highly unrestricted. For tourists, this means that the very experience of entering a country is becoming a more controlled process.

In addition, travel authorization systems are being introduced. In the EU, ETIAS is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 (around October to December) for travelers to Schengen Area countries. This will require short-term visitors from visa-exempt countries, including Japan, to obtain online authorization in advance.

Separately, the UK has mandated its own Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system starting April 2, 2025, requiring travelers to apply and receive approval before departure. Travel no longer begins upon arrival at the airport—it is embedded in systems well before departure.

Strengthening Tourist Taxes, Rental Regulations, and Behavior Controls

Alongside changes in border control, rules within tourist destinations themselves are also evolving significantly across Europe. Many cities are raising accommodation taxes or introducing new tourist taxes, making it standard practice for visitors to share the infrastructure and social costs generated by tourism.

For example, Paris applies a tiered accommodation tax depending on the type of lodging, ranging from a few euros to over €15 per night. These taxes are used to fund tourism infrastructure and local services.

Cities like Rome and Florence have also established accommodation taxes, with revenue allocated to transportation, sanitation, and preservation of cultural heritage.

A particularly notable case is Venice, Italy. Starting April 25, 2024, the city introduced an “access fee” for day-trippers entering the historic center, and it continues to be enforced during peak periods (April to July) in 2025.

Day visitors are generally required to pay around €5 to €10 and obtain a QR code to enter the city. This system aims to directly manage tourist numbers and reduce environmental strain and the impact on residents’ daily lives. It represents a clear shift away from the assumption of unrestricted tourism, toward limiting visits that exceed the city’s capacity.

Direct regulation of tourist behavior is also increasing. In places like Barcelona and Mallorca in Spain, fines have been introduced for late-night noise, drinking in public spaces, and disruptive behavior in historic districts. Many areas are also clarifying access restrictions and conduct rules in beaches and nature reserves from an environmental protection perspective.

Stricter regulation of short-term rentals is another key trend. In Barcelona, enforcement against unlicensed rentals has intensified, including the removal of illegal listings from online platforms and the imposition of heavy fines. This is driven by strong local backlash against housing shortages and rising rents caused by the growth of tourist rentals.

Similarly, Amsterdam in the Netherlands has introduced limits on the number of days properties can be rented and requires registration, clearly establishing a policy stance of “welcoming tourism while protecting residential living conditions.”

Why Europe Changed Its Rules

At the core of these changes is the impact of tourism on local residents’ lives. Overcrowding, noise, waste problems, and rising housing costs have become chronic issues, and in many areas, the burden now outweighs the economic benefits of tourism.

There are also limits to tourism infrastructure. Excessive concentration of visitors degrades transportation and public services, ultimately diminishing the attractiveness of the destination itself.

Additionally, growing awareness of climate change and environmental protection has played a role. There is now a shared policy-level recognition of the need to shift from mass, short-term consumption-based tourism to “higher-quality tourism” that emphasizes meaningful stays and contributions to local communities.

The Current State of Overtourism in Japan

Japan is experiencing similar trends. In cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Okinawa, overcrowding, transportation strain, and friction with local residents are becoming more visible. Tourists are increasingly spilling into residential areas, altering living environments.

Some municipalities have already introduced or are considering tourist taxes. However, Japan faces a high psychological barrier to restricting tourists, often delaying the establishment of clear rules. As a result, dissatisfaction accumulates at the local level, leading to reactive, ad hoc responses.

Lessons from Europe

European examples highlight the growing recognition of the limits of designing tourism policy solely around visitor convenience. The balance between economic benefits and the burden on residents is becoming the foundation of policy design.

A key shift is viewing tourism not as something to simply increase, but as demand that must be managed. Measures like Venice’s entry fees, seasonal access restrictions, and price adjustments through tourist taxes reflect an awareness of the capacity limits of cities and communities. This perspective offers important insights for Japan.

Another important point is the effort to make the purpose and background of rules visible. In major European cities, explanations for tourist taxes and behavioral regulations are often provided through official websites and accommodations. While not always sufficient, the effort to communicate reasoning itself is significant.

Furthermore, tourism is not treated as an isolated sector. Policies are integrated with broader urban issues such as housing, transportation, and environmental management, and are discussed across sectors.

That said, Europe’s approach is not a finished model. For example, Venice’s access fee began as an experimental measure to evaluate its impact on tourist numbers and residents’ lives, rather than as a permanent system.

Many cities also revise tax rates and application periods annually, operating under the assumption that no perfect system exists from the outset and adjusting through implementation.

Rather than avoiding friction between tourism and local communities, Europe’s approach incorporates it as a given and continues to explore ways for coexistence—an approach that may offer valuable lessons for Japan.