In an attempt to tackle this issue, Authorities of Ile-de-Brehat decided to limit the number of visitors who want to visit this Island this summer to 4,700 between 08:30 and 14:30 from this week until August 23, EU Helpers reports.
This European Union holiday hotspot has only 400 locals living on the Island. On the other hand, the number of tourists daily can reach 5,000 during the summer, prompting the government to take such strict measures.
The 412 permanent residents – owners of second homes, workers, emergency services, police, customs and national defense personnel – are not affected by this quota.
Island Warns Visitors That New Rules Do Not Equal to a Tourist Ban
The municipality estimates that a maximum of 5,340 people could reach Bréhat on a regulated day by counting exempted and those crossing outside the time window. Olivier Carré, the mayor of Île-de-Bréhat, said the new rules were not a tourist ban but a new rule to ensure people had a better time with fewer crowds.
According to Carré, the cap follows a trial last year, which prevented the Island from reaching highs of 5,500.
3 Other EU Destinations Imposing Rules to Reduce Tourist Numbers
In a move similar to France, Spain decided to allow only 1,300 tourists a day on its Island of Ons to prevent it from becoming overcrowded.
Majorca, one of the Balearic islands, has also been a focal point for anti-tourism sentiment, with thousands of people taking to the streets to express their concerns about the impact of tourism on their communities.
In response, the number of tourists staying on the Spanish Island of Mallorca has decreased after the government decided to limit the number of beds for tourists. In this regard, island officials said the number of tourists endangered the coexistence between visitors and residents.
The Balearic Islands recorded a record 17.8 million people last year, which is expected to be even higher this year. However, Spain is not alone in its displeasure with mass tourism – Europe’s tourist hotspots, as Italy and Greece are also considering ways to limit visitor numbers.
As a result, the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos are imposing cruise passenger closures to reduce overcrowding.
