“While there is no silver bullet for overtourism, we intend to continue implementing measures to protect citizens’ daily lives while also ensuring visitors can enjoy a comfortable stay,” said Kousaku Ono, manager of Kyoto’s Sustainable Tourism Promotion Division.
Tour operators are adjusting too. B-Corp operator Inside Travel Group has deliberately shifted its Japan focus towards five under-visited regions, including Toyama, Nagoya, Nagasaki, Aomori and Yamaguchi. “Overtourism is one of the biggest threats facing the future of travel, and it’s something the industry needs to confront head-on,” said Tim Oakes, the company’s managing director. “These are places that actively want visitors, just not overcrowding.”
United States: Charging international visitors
The US has taken a more overtly financial approach. Its vast US National Parks system, comprising 433 parks across 85 million acres, is a major draw for visitors, but half of all recreation visits to national parks are concentrated in the 25 most-visited parks, which has led to overcrowding, long lines and an excess of litter.
In 2026, the US introduced a $100 (£73.67) per-person surcharge for international visitors at 11 popular parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. The annual America the Beautiful pass, which covers all federal recreation sites, now costs $250 (£184) for non-residents, compared with $80 (£59) for US citizens.
The policy followed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to increase fees for non-US residents, which some report is leading to even longer entrance lines as park staffers verify citizenship and check IDs.