Yet another European tourist destination is introducing stricter rules on Airbnb and short rentals to contain the spread of overtourism.

In the picturesque city of Bruges, Belgium, known for its cobblestone streets and medieval charm, tourist numbers soared to an impressive 7.3 million in 2023. Taking multi-day visitors, the figure jumped to a staggering 10.1 million.

The quaint Belgian hotspot, heralded as one of the globe’s earliest tourist targets since the 19th century when it beckoned the elite from Britain and France, boasts a historic centre that shines as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With tourism roots stretching back to 1909 with its initial tourist association, Bruges has watched its visitor economy flourish dramatically.

Yet, not all locals maintain a love affair with this touristic torrent. Research by the Flemish Tourism Office exposed that more residents are growing weary of the oceanic arrivals, despite their economic boon.

Mayor Dirk De fauw told The Brussels Times: “The people of Bruges have always been fairly positive about tourism but post-Covid we have seen attitudes turn. People have started indicating that there are just too many visitors.

“If we just let everyone do what they want, things will quickly go wrong.

“We cannot and do not want to control access to the city, like Dubrovnik or Venice. We want to keep Bruges a city with activities beyond tourism.”

City authorities have now imposed a ban on the construction of new hotels in the city centre – and no more permits to turn homes into short-term rentals will be available.

The ban applies to properties listed on sites such as Airbnb as well while the city seeks to combat unsustainable housing prices and to maintain a fair balance between residents and visitors.

The port of Zeebrugge has, less than 15 miles from the city centre, has the capacity to accommodate up to five ships at once.

However, in 2019, this number was curtailed to just two. Ships were also encouraged to dock on weekdays rather than weekends when most daytrippers arrived.

The mayor also pledged to reject repeated requests for organised kayaking and extra large boats for city canal tours.

In a bid to reduce footfall, city authorities ceased advertising Bruges in other Belgian cities, including Brussels, a move reminiscent of Amsterdam.