Nowadays, with the rapid growth of global tourism, many countries face serious challenges such as environmental degradation, pressure on local resources, and a declining quality of life for residents. To tackle these issues, a number of communities have introduced tourism taxes to manage visitor numbers and reduce the negative impacts of overtourism.

On one hand, tourism taxes can act as a barrier for budget travelers and students, making travel more expensive. This may limit opportunities for people with limited financial resources and create inequality in access to tourism. Local businesses that depend on tourism may also suffer from reduced visitor numbers, potentially leading to higher unemployment among residents.

On the other hand, tourism taxes offer significant benefits, particularly for environmental protection. They can fund waste management, beach and mountain clean-ups, and ecosystem restoration. A well-known example is Venice, Italy, which introduced a pilot city entry fee in 2024 for day-trippers. The fee helps control visitor numbers and generates revenue for infrastructure maintenance. Tourism taxes can also encourage responsible travel and support cultural and heritage preservation, ensuring historic sites remain protected. Moreover, locals struggling with overcrowded infrastructure, rising living costs, and a declining quality of life may also benefit from these measures.

Jeju Island’s planned tourism tax, a so-called “entrance tax” for tourists, has been put on hold. In my opinion, imposing tourism taxes is the most effective way to address overtourism, as it benefits both locals and tourists while protecting the environment. Such taxes should not be seen as a restriction on travel freedom but rather as a necessary tool for promoting sustainable regional development.

By Sundetova Meruert Onaevna, Junior, Faculty of Busines Administration