News
12 June 2025
Bruges takes action to address overtourism
News
12 June 2025
Urban/city tourism
Changes in tourism demand and opportunities
Well-being of residents
+6 more
Login / create an account to be able to react
-
11

Bruges is implementing measures to balance tourism with residents’ quality of life, including banning new hotels, limiting short-term lets, restricting cruise ship arrivals, and promoting ‘quality tourism’.
The Brussels Morning Newspaper
Topics
Belgium
Company with 250 or more employees
Consumer Organisations
Destination Management & Marketing Organisations
Local Authorities
SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)
-
Specific types of tourism
-
-
Urban/city tourism
-
-
Transition Pathway Strategic Areas
-
-
Changes in tourism demand and opportunities
-
Well-being of residents
-
-
Business activities
-
-
Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism
-
Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities
-
Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation
-
Hotel and similar accommodation
-
Operation of historical sites
-
Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport
-
Share
In 2024, Bruges, Belgium welcomed 7 million visitors, prompting local authorities to reassess their strategies for managing tourist inflows. According to The Brussels Morning Newspaper, officials introduced several measures aimed at balancing the needs of tourists and residents. These include a ban on new hotel developments, stricter regulations on Airbnb rentals, and limitations on cruise ship arrivals. With this approach, Bruges seeks to prioritise "quality tourism", focusing on residential tourism while moderately reducing day tourism.
For more details on the city's initiatives, please refer to the link available on the left-hand side of the platform.
#Destination management #Adaptation strategies #Sustainable tourism
Comments (0)
Related content
See also
Sign-up for the Sustainable EU Tourism Twinning Workshop
- Categories
- Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more
Jump into the conversation with the community!
- Categories
- Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more
Explore our May article on unbalanced tourism
- Categories
- Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more