As we wrap up another busy year across the pond, it’s time to take a look at the biggest stories in European travel. From incidents and regulations spurned by overtourism to the reopening of an iconic scene and news of a country with a fixed eye on the future of its tourism industry, it’s been a year full of important travel headlines.
If you missed any, read on to be updated, and check back Score For the TravelPulse newsletter to keep up with all the travel news in 2025.
Venice is taking concrete steps to combat crowds
After years of posturing and proposals, things have come to Venice’s way this year regarding the city’s attempts to regulate the runaway tourism train. In April, the city imposed an admission fee, which was applied to travelers visiting the city on select dates throughout the peak travel season. After some growing pains and initial protests by some locals, the entry fee was deemed a success, and it was announced later in the year that it would be extended in 2025.
In August, the city’s new limit on tour group size went into effect, limiting said groups to 25 people. This was done with the aim of reducing clogged streets and other inconveniences associated with large groups. TravelPulse reported shortly after the launch that the measures were met with approval from locals and travelers alike.
Barcelona at sunrise (Image source: gatsi/Adobe Stock)
The Barcelona water cannon incident has gone global
We call them water shots heard all over the world. Last July, protesters in Barcelona sprayed water on diners on the famous Las Ramblas street while chanting, “Tourists, go home!” And other anti-tourism slogans. The incident was met with condemnation from nearly every corner of the travel industry and spread to mainstream media, putting the thorny issues of tourism and its impacts on destinations front and center.
The debate about overtourism has erupted into the mainstream
After nearly a decade of simmering tensions and anxiety, the incident in Barcelona has confirmed that 2024 is the year in which issues related to over-tourism in Europe hit screens and headlines around the world. And Barcelona wasn’t anywhere near the only place, with destinations like Mallorca, Prague, Amsterdam, Athens, Santorini and even the small Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen making headlines for their efforts to combat crowds and/or enact regulations to change the status quo.
Perhaps nothing sums up the current situation in some European destinations like the quote from the village priest of Lauterbrunnen, Markus Tchanz, when he told Swiss public broadcaster SRF: “We feel like employees of an amusement park.”
Destinations are cracking down on short-term rentals (Image source: Tada Images / Adobe Stock)
Airbnb appears in the crosshairs
Airbnb has had some issues in Europe this year. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Colboni announced in June that the city plans to ban short-term vacation rentals by 2028. The plan comes in response to rising tourist numbers and ever-increasing rents for local residents as a large chunk of its housing stock is converted into short-term rentals. The plan still faces some legal obstacles.
Elsewhere, Italy has banned self-check-in and “locked boxes” associated with short-term holiday rentals, meaning hosts will have to meet guests in person, and residents in Budapest’s Sixth District voted to ban short-term rentals as well. Furthermore, I wrote an article here on TravelPulse this year about why I’m not a big Airbnb guy.
Events dominate the agenda
2024 has been a year of European events and travels revolving around. Taylor Swift took the reins over the summer, crisscrossing the continent (mostly with Travis Kelce); The Euro Championship entertained football fans for a month in Germany during the summer, and the Summer Olympics were held in Paris over two weeks in July and August. Travel advisors should note that this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, England, United Kingdom. (Image source: Adobe Stock/Tomas Marek)
European pre-clearance is now a reality
For more than 15 years, European residents have had to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before visiting the United States. In 2024, the European equivalents are a step closer to reality, with one launching and the other experiencing another delay.
These programs are essentially digital permission slips that also act as a quick security check, and in the UK, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) will come into effect on January 8, 2025. This means that all travelers from the US entering the UK (even if you Through the UK to another country) you must obtain an ETA online at a cost of £10 (about $12.50). ETA approval should arrive within hours and the ETA will be valid for two years, allowing you to enter multiple times while the ETA is valid.
On the continent, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) was supposed to launch in 2024, but has been postponed and is now scheduled to start in mid-2025. When active, travelers to 30 European countries will need to obtain ETIAS at a price of €7 ( $7.30) before arrival. Like the ETA, the ETIAS will be implemented online, but this authorization will last for three years.
Ukrainian flag waving in the wind against the city of Kiev, Ukraine (Image source: Adobe Stock/ingusk)
Ukraine looks to the future
As the war in Ukraine approaches its dismal third anniversary, the country’s tourism industry is already looking forward to brighter days. Yes, although there is no end in sight to the current conflict, it was revealed earlier this year that the Ukrainian State Agency for Tourism Development (SATD) had begun establishing relationships with major travel companies such as Expedia, Airbnb, and VisitBerlin in an attempt to put an end to the current conflict. The state is on a firm footing to create a vibrant tourism economy when the war eventually ends.
Possible plans include war sites, which would tell the story of the conflict, along with international investments that could help the country immediately reach and exceed pre-war tourism levels. Speaking about the importance of remembering what happened to Ukraine and sharing it with visitors, SATD President Marianna Oleskeev said, “The easiest way is to forget, but then you need to work through that trauma and we have to tell it to everyone.” “Primarily the next generation, but also international visitors.”
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. (Image source: evannovostro/Adobe)
Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral
In another story about rising from the ashes, just before the end of 2024, Notre Dame Cathedral in France officially reopened its doors, five and a half years after the devastating fire. The reopening was celebrated in December with much pomp and circumstance that included a ceremony attended by thousands, including such notables as President-elect Donald Trump, First Lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The cathedral is now open for tours, with group tours resuming in 2025. Additionally, Notre Dame has launched a mobile app, featuring guided tours, reservations for religious services and more.
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