This summer in Europe has been very hot and very crowded with tourists, leading to overtourism causing problems with locals in the destinations. The latest country to join the fight to curb tourism is the Czech Republic. With many travelers visiting major cities like Prague, the government plans to cut down on the number of visitors.

Prague in the Czech Republic joins the fight against overtourism

Prague is considered one of Europe’s finest capitals with culture, stunning architecture, and history, while surrounded by spectacular nature. Known as the City of a Hundred Spires, it is so popular that the city is packed with tourists every summer. However, locals claim they are losing the city they call home.

Prague is among Europe’s grandest old cities, nestling on the Vltava River. The city features a medieval history and is known for its Habsburg Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Among its major attractions are the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Old Town Square with its astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter and the historic fort of Vyšehrad. Such are the wonders of the historic center of the city that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All this is wonderful for tourists to explore, but they are not completely welcomed by residents.

According to DW, Praguers are “tired” of their home being over-visited. Their report claims that despite only having 1.3 million residents, between seven and eight million visitors descend on the city each year.

Government plans to cut down accommodations

Now, the Czech Republic government plans to reduce the number of tourists visiting its major cities by limiting the amount and availability of accommodations. This way, the country is cutting down on the number of visitors without entirely disrupting tourism or cutting out a major part of the economy altogether. Meanwhile, this move will hopefully appease local residents who have seen rentals and housing costs skyrocketing.

The Czech government approved a draft of the bill last month. The bill includes defining the amount of space considered to be necessary for a rental property. Moreover, the plan is to cut down the number of days the property can be rented. Meanwhile, property owners must register their rental property and have it approved. However, this new ruling mostly affects Airbnb. It is estimated that somewhere between 40 to 70 percent of vacation rentals are not reported.

It is hoped that the new plan will crack down on the number of tourists by limiting the rowdiness that often takes place in Prague as the city has a noise pollution problem. Reportedly, the drunken pub crawls regularly affect residents as the rowdiness ruins their sleep.

By making these plans, Prague joins the list of popular destinations in Europe making changes to curb overtourism. Among them, Venice has introduced a daytripper fee, and Barcelona is fighting overcrowding along with several popular Spanish destinations.

Hopefully, the curbs will make life more pleasant for residents and tourists alike.