San Sebastián is located in the Basque region of Spain and lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, 12 miles from the France–Spain border
One of Spain’s most popular cities is introducing fines and visitor limits in a bid to tackle over-tourism.
From April 10, San Sebastián is to limit the maximum number of people in guided visits to 25 to avoid congestion, noise, nuisance and overcrowding in the historical city. The local council has warned tour guides that they face a fine of up to 1,500 euros if they are found flouting the rules.
San Sebastián is located in the Basque region of Spain and lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, 12 miles from the France–Spain border. It is a tourism magnet due to its architecture, cuisine and beaches.
However, with millions of tourists flocking there every year, the city centre suffers from overcrowding that has become more and more of an issue for those living there. New rules soon to kick in aim to “promote a more orderly flow of visitors in the busiest areas of the city”. A few months ago, the city council also prohibited the use of public address systems on guided tours, in a bid to keep the peace.
Tour groups will only be able to operate between 8am in the morning and 11pm at night. A statement from the city council read: “The number of guided tour groups in (San Sebastián) has increased significantly in recent years” and that “the presence of these groups has an impact on the daily life of the city and its inhabitants, especially in the busiest areas.”
Last summer, San Sebastián’s authorities published a code aimed at tour guides, with a series of recommendations that urged visitors not to linger in “public places of passage” and to “avoid the most saturated areas in summer and peak hours”.
The city’s leaders have vowed to take a more sustainable approach to tourism and have already banned the construction of new hotels. Many local residents say they have become weary of the constant influx of tourists. Their concerns are being shared by other holiday destinations as Spain forecasts a record year for tourist numbers.
The Canary Islands, including Tenerife, have recently seen protests from fed-up residents who say visitor numbers need to be limited due to the adverse effects on the environment, infrastructures, roads, daily lives and the environment. In the Costa del Sol a group of locals have launched protests against over-tourism, arguing that the presence of too many Airbnbs and hotels is pushing the price of rents up too high.
Next month, after years of planning, the authorities in Venice will start charging visitors to the city €5 (£4.30) per person, per day. The scheme, which will run for 30 days initially as a trial, is designed to reduce over-tourism in the city, which some fear is literally and figuratively eroding the Queen of the Adriatic.
Check out more of Daily Mirror’s latest travel stories by signing up to our free weekly newsletter.
