Ten holiday destinations that limit the number of tourists. What measures are the authorities taking?

Although crowds are sometimes unavoidable at tourist attractions, they can affect the ambience of a location, disturb the local population and even harm the ecosystem.

This has led some destinations to impose caps on visitor numbers in an attempt to keep tourism sustainable.

Here are some top destinations around the world that are limiting over-tourism and how they're doing it, according to msn.com.

1. Thailand

With bustling cities, incredible beaches and historic architecture, it's no wonder Thailand is on many people's bucket lists. In fact, the country welcomed an impressive 28 million tourists in 2023. However, the country wants to keep tourism sustainable, so in 2023 it announced plans to introduce a tourism tax (although when it will come into action has not yet been confirmed by the government).

The 300 baht (£7/$9) tax will be collected from travelers arriving in the country by air and will be used to develop destinations such as Bangkok's Grand Palace (pictured) as well as to have care for tourists when health insurance does not cover them.

2. French Polynesia

The archipelagos of French Polynesia have an area roughly the same size as Paris and London combined, but are spread across 130 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. These tiny islands can quickly become overcrowded, prompting recent plans to ensure a maximum 1:1 ratio of residents to tourists.

The sustainable tourism plan, which was announced in November 2022 and will run until 2027, will mean just 280,000 people can visit annually.

3. Bhutan

A trailblazer when it comes to sustainable tourism, Bhutan has taken a slightly different approach to keeping visitor numbers at bay. As part of a new strategy, the nation will require every traveler to pay a sustainable development tax of more than 79 pounds ($100) per night – a 50 percent reduction from the previous fee of 158 pounds ($200 of dollars).

This amount will be used for various development projects, including tree planting, trail maintenance and training of workers in the tourism industry, as well as education and healthcare in the country. Bhutan is one of the few nations on Earth that is carbon negative, meaning it offsets more emissions than it produces.

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Visitors love Amsterdam's gorgeous canals and historic architecture – but the crowds that have flooded the Dutch capital in recent years are becoming unsustainable. That's why in November 2022, officials announced a new plan to keep the city livable.

Among the measures are limiting the number of river cruises, earlier closures of Red Light District establishments, measures to combat rowdy groups and a tightening of policies on vacation rentals and guesthouses.

5. Boracay, Philippines

With its jewel-like sparkling waters, pristine sand and swaying palm trees, the Philippine island of Boracay is the definition of tropical paradise. However, it is in danger of being swallowed up by congestion.

To cope with the growing number of visitors, the local government has required visitors to register with the Municipal Tourism Office by 2023, meaning no more than 19,215 tourists can be on the island at any one time. Although this policy has been lifted, visitors are still required to complete a tourist arrival form.

6. Machu Picchu, Peru

Every year, hordes of people head to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. In 2021, it hosted around 448,000 visitors, while in 2019, before the pandemic, a massive 1.5 million tourists descended on the sacred site.

To preserve the ancient wonder, the number of tourists has been limited to 4,500 per day, and those who want to visit must buy an entry ticket online ahead of time. All travelers are also required to attend with a tour guide, and group sizes are limited to 10 people per guide.

7. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Overtourism has become such a big problem in Dubrovnik that in 2016, UNESCO announced that it was at risk of losing its status as a World Heritage Site. So the city announced a series of measures to end overcrowding.

Now, the number of visitors coming from cruise ships is limited to 5,000 per day, the number of souvenir stands has been reduced by 80%, and the number of tables and chairs in restaurants has been reduced by 30%.

8. Santorini, Greece

Another destination cracking down on cruise ships is the picture-perfect island of Santorini. The Greek island, famous for its blue and white buildings set on dramatic coastlines, welcomed a whopping two million tourists in 2018, with claims of up to 18,000 visitors from cruise ships alone on its busiest days.

To combat this, officials limited cruise passenger arrivals to 8,000 per day starting in 2019.

9. Barcelona, ​​Spain

Travelers flock to this Spanish city for its food, sun and gorgeous architecture, among other attributes. But the hotspot has had to implement stricter regulations to prevent its streets from becoming clogged with congestion.

In March 2023, it was announced that tourist groups in the historic center will be limited to 20 people, while groups in smaller areas will be limited to 15 people. The city also banned the use of megaphones and created one-way systems on 24 of its streets and squares to keep the crowd moving.

10. Lord Howe Island, Australia

Easily accessible from Sydney, tiny Lord Howe Island is home to stunning natural scenery that makes it a popular escape from the mainland. However, the destination is determined to ensure that it will not be overwhelmed by tourists.

That's why no more than 400 visitors are allowed on the island at any one time – just over the island's permanent population of 382 people.