13 countries that may soon stop welcoming tourists

If it feels harder to just book a flight and show up somewhere beautiful.

A report from Travel Daily Media reveals that around 1.1 billion people travel internationally every year—a staggering number that puts real strain on the world’s most beloved destinations. I know—“countries closing their doors” sounds dramatic, but stick with me.

Over the last few years, a handful of places have started asking tough questions: how many visitors is too many, and what’s the cost of welcome? This list pulls together real policies, limits, and proposals that show a trend toward much tighter tourist access—sometimes temporary, sometimes structural. It is a gentle heads-up so you can plan smarter, not panic.

Greece: Santorini and other islands are setting hard limits

Greek islands famous for postcard-perfect views—Santorini especially—have been moving toward daily caps for cruise passengers, limits on new hotel development, and stricter short-term rental rules to curb overtourism. Local authorities have proposed phased restrictions that favor longer stays and responsible travel over quick photo-stop tourism.

The reality is fewer cruise ballast days and tougher zoning for new tourism projects, which together make instant island-hopping less feasible. For would-be visitors, that means planning longer stays or choosing less-crowded islands instead. These are not emergency closures but deliberate squeezes on easy mass visits.

Bhutan

Bhutan has long run a “high value, low volume” tourism policy that charges a mandatory Sustainable Development Fee; it’s set to price out casual backpacking and favor curated stays. The government enforces a minimum daily package (currently US$100 per person per night) that covers guiding, accommodation, and the fee, which makes spontaneous, cheap visits nearly impossible.

That fee has been deliberately used to protect culture and ecology while keeping visitor numbers under control. In practice, that means Bhutan won’t “close,” but it will keep tourism tightly limited, and that’s effectively the same as not welcoming mass tourism. For travelers, the takeaway is simple: visits require planning, money, and intention.

Croatia

Dubrovnik has put tight limits on cruise ship calls and daily cruise passenger numbers to protect its walled city and residents’ quality of life. Port authorities have refused calls and set daily maximums to prevent the old town from being overrun by shiploads at once.

That doesn’t shut the country down, but it does mean large numbers of cruise-generated visitors are effectively being turned away. Boat-based day trips and last-minute dockings are less reliable now, which changes how you plan Adriatic travel. If you loved the idea of a spontaneous ship stop, plan for fewer windows and stricter berthing rules.

Ecuador (Galápagos)

The Galápagos archipelago has been raising entry fees and tightening biosecurity and access rules because its unique ecosystem can’t absorb endless visitors. In 2024, Ecuador doubled some visitor fees for conservation reasons and has been publicly discussing caps and stricter controls to reduce invasive species, waste, and water stress.

The point is urgent: the islands host endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, and crowding directly harms those fragile populations. Practically, that can look like higher costs, stricter permits, and fewer available itineraries — all ways of “closing” the easy door to tourism. If you love the Galápagos, expect more rigid rules and fewer last-minute options.

Spain

Spain—particularly Barcelona—has moved to phase out or strictly limit short-term holiday rentals and enforce national registration for tourist properties to protect housing and neighborhoods. Barcelona’s plan to stop renewing short-term rental licenses by 2028 and Spain’s national registry for holiday rentals show a political will to reduce tourist density in residential areas.

For visitors, that means fewer Airbnb-style options, more compliance checks, and potentially less availability of “tourist apartment” in hot neighborhoods. The policy aims to rebalance cities for residents, which inevitably tightens access for some kinds of tourists. Expect more red tape and fewer easy apartment bookings in big Spanish destinations.

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Peru (Machu Picchu)

Peru has steadily tightened access to Machu Picchu — timed entry, required guides, and a strict daily ticket quota are now the norm. Authorities have capped daily visitor numbers and shortened allowed visit times to reduce erosion and crowding.

That means you can’t just show up and wander; you need an advance ticket and a slot on a circuit. The result is fewer visitors, greater planning needs, and a site that’s effectively off-limits to impulse tourism. If Machu Picchu is on your list, book early and expect limited window times.

Norway

Norway has been tightening rules for cruise traffic in UNESCO World Heritage fjords, pushing for zero-emission vessels and restricting certain ship types in delicate waterways. Deadlines and technical standards have shifted (and been extended), but the direction is clear: heavy, polluting cruise traffic will be curtailed.

In practical terms, that can make many mainstream cruises incompatible with fjord itineraries unless lines adapt. So while Norway won’t ban visitors outright, many popular cruise experiences could evaporate or morph into much smaller, greener alternatives. That’s a significant change for how the fjords will be visited.

Palau

Palau still welcomes travelers, but it’s one of the first nations to make an arrival eco-pledge and add formal biosecurity checks for everything from footwear to luggage. That pledge, and a steady drive to prioritize conservation and community benefit, means tourists face more screening, rules, and, in some cases, extra fees or restrictions on activities.

For small-island states, a handful of bad actors or an invasive bug can wreck livelihoods, so Palau’s approach is precautionary by necessity. In practice, visitors may find access to certain islands, dive sites, or activities limited unless they comply with strict safeguards. In short: you’re welcome, but you’ll need to prove you’re not a threat.

Iceland

Iceland has gone from “open playground” to “managed attraction” by reinstating tourist accommodation taxes and exploring dynamic pricing to reduce peak pressure on fragile landscapes. The government and local councils are increasingly using fees and permits to slow damaging day-trip behavior and fund infrastructure.

That means some routes, boat tours, or sites may be limited or more expensive, and cruise passengers now face additional levies as well. The upshot is that Iceland isn’t shutting down, but it’s getting pickier about who, when, and how people visit. If you were planning a last-minute ring-road rush, expect steadying measures.

Italy

Italy hasn’t closed its doors to tourism, but Venice and other hotspots have introduced booking systems, day-tripper fees, and limits that make casual visits harder. Venice’s access fee and preregistration for peak days, along with limits on group size and stricter enforcement of illegal rentals, mean the city is moving from “open to anyone” to “managed access.”

That’s a practical way of telling mass day-tourism: we won’t take you all at once. For travelers used to dropping in, it’s a shock; for residents, it’s relief. The broader lesson: expect more permits, online forms, and fees when you visit big Italian tourist draws.

Seychelles

Seychelles depends heavily on tourism, but it’s also small and ecologically delicate, so authorities and researchers have commissioned carrying-capacity studies and tighter marine protections. The goal is to avoid ecosystem tipping points—coral, bird nesting areas, and freshwater supplies can all be stressed by too many visitors.

When a place is this small, policymakers sometimes restrict resort growth, control cruise calls, or add environmental levies to keep numbers sustainable. In practice, that can translate into permit limits, quotas for certain islands, and stricter controls on activities such as diving and fishing. If your travel plans include remote island resorts, expect more regulatory guardrails.

Maldives

The Maldives’ government has updated tourism law and zoning rules that affect where resorts can be developed, how leases are extended, and how inhabited islands are used for tourism. Those legal changes are aimed at more controlled, higher-value development and at protecting islands’ ecosystems and community spaces.

While the country still actively promotes incoming travel, the legal framework now gives authorities stronger levers to refuse or reshape projects that would overload local resources. That means future tourism growth in some atolls may be confined or rerouted, changing which islands accept mass tourism. So: open, yes—but on the government’s terms.

Japan

Japan hasn’t closed its borders, but prized attractions like Mount Fuji and Kyoto are implementing daily caps, higher visitor fees, and restricted access to protect culture and safety. Mount Fuji introduced a daily climber cap and a climber fee; Kyoto is tightening short-term rental rules and hiking taxes in certain wards to push back against overtourism.

These place-by-place controls can feel like a country “closing” when the most famous sites become effectively off-limits without planning. For travelers, the message is to book slots and respect local rules, or you won’t get in. It’s a targeted restriction, not a national shutdown—but it does significantly change the visitor experience.

Key takeaways

The world’s most beautiful places are finally setting boundaries. Countries like Venice and the Galápagos are realizing that paradise needs protection, which means fewer crowds, more rules, and higher prices.

Spontaneous travel is becoming an endangered art. The new travel reality? Booking windows, eco-permits, and visitor caps that make “just winging it” feel like a fairy tale from the 2010s.

Sustainability is the new entry ticket. Countries aren’t anti-tourist, they’re just pro-survival. The best travelers now aren’t the loudest or richest, but the most respectful and intentional.

Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.

Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.

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