9 new travel bans that can make your life harder
Every year travel becomes more and more accessible: plane tickets are getting cheaper, as well as hotels and tours are getting cheaper. But have we ever thought about how the locals feel when the streets are filled with visitors? Not all tourists are polite and ready to respect the traditions and historical values of another country.
We didn't have to spend a lot of time looking for evidence that the world was a little tired of tourists. The new bans and restrictions speak for themselves.
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1. Tourists "just one day" in Venice will have to pay tax.
The locals from this ancient city are tired of the crowds of tourists: they literally block the streets, and locals cannot get to work or home after a working day. That is why from May 1 you will have to pay money to enter the city. Tourists who come to Venice for a gondola ride will have to pay $ 3. Anyone who tries to avoid being paid will pay a $ 450 fine. These rules apply only to tourists who decide to save money on a hotel and come to the city for only one day (people who stay in hotels have already paid the tax).
2. On the beaches in the Philippines, it is forbidden to smoke, eat and build sandcastles.
The Philippine authorities have closed the beaches of Boracay Island for 6 months to carry out cleaning. It cost nearly $ 20 million to remove all the debris from the sand and water. Now they are ready to let tourists in again, but not in such large numbers, and only if they do not harm nature. It is strictly forbidden to smoke, drink alcohol or even eat on the beaches. And natural landscapes must remain as they are, which means that children cannot build sandcastles.
3. In Thailand, you will be fined for using plastic bags.
Plastic bags or containers cannot be used on Koh Samet in Thailand. If you break this rule, you will pay a fine. New restrictions were put in place because the poor island was incredibly destroyed. Almost 1,500 tourists come there every day. After they leave, the national parks are full of various packaging, bottles, and other rubbish.
4. In Bali, bikini walks may soon be banned.
People from this Indonesian island complain about tourists walking in swimsuits and taking pictures of themselves in front of temples. So, in 2018, local authorities seriously considered the issue of banning the wearing of bikinis and restricting access to sacred sites for tourists.
5. In Russia, the number of hostels will be reduced.
In 2018, a huge number of hostels were opened in Russia. And most of them are in ordinary city apartments: resourceful owners have placed more beds in the rooms and began to rent them out. Neighbors have to put up with constant noise and many strangers. But in 2019, apartment buildings are likely to be illegal. What will this mean for visitors? They'll have to book rooms in legal hostels.
6. Only 300 climbers per year will be allowed to climb Mount Everest.
In 2019 and beyond, you will only be able to climb Mount Everest in the spring. There are also restrictions on the number of climbers - no more than 300 people per year. This decision was made after the local authorities had to clean up the mountain: in 2018, about 8.4 tons of garbage and excrement were collected on the mountain. There will now be dumpsters and toilets.
7. In the Netherlands, cyclists are prohibited from talking on the phone.
Visitors who are accustomed to renting bicycles should stop talking on the phone while riding. If they don't, they may have to pay a $ 250 fine. It used to be illegal in the Netherlands to talk while driving a car, but from July 2019 the same law will apply to cyclists. The reason is simple: the number of accidents has increased.
8. In Florence, tourists cannot eat or rest outside.
This city is visited annually by more than 10 million people from different countries. Previously, there was no place in Florence without tired tourists who were resting and eating sandwiches. The city authorities decided that this behavior negatively affected the appearance of Florence, and since 2018 it is forbidden to sit on the stairs and eat outside. This law only applies to 4 streets in the city center, and if you break this law, you will have to pay $ 500.
9. In Rome, tourist buses are limited and historic sites are more closely monitored.
Since January 2019, the center of the Italian capital has been closed to tourist buses. This was done in order to protect historical heritage and reduce noise and air pollution. In addition, the Roman authorities will tighten the punishment of vandals for such things as taking pieces of the walls of the Colosseum or washing feet in fountains.
Keywords: Travel | Travel bans | Tourism | World | Country | Tourists | Tours | Traditions