Bruges Imposes Tourism Limits as Visitor Numbers Hit 7 Million in 2024

Bruges Limits Tourism as Visitors Reach 7M in 2024

Bruges (Eurotoday) – Bruges, Belgium, is addressing overtourism by banning new hotels, limiting Airbnbs, and restricting cruise ships. Mayor Dirk De Fauw and Alderman Minou Esquenet aim for “quality tourism,” focusing on overnight stays. In 2024, Bruges welcomed nearly 7 million visitors, a 13% increase from the previous year.

Bruges Takes Action Against Overtourism

Bruges is implementing various measures to manage the influx of tourists. The city has prohibited the construction of new hotels in the historic district and has temporarily halted the approval of new vacation home permits. Additionally, authorities are tightening regulations on short-term rentals, such as Airbnb.

Cruise tourism, a major driver of day-trip congestion, is being restricted through new docking limits. Officials explain that these steps aim to strike a balance between visitor appeal and resident well-being, ensuring Bruges remains a sustainable city.

How is Bruges Managing 7 Million Tourists?

Mayor Dirk De Fauw acknowledges the challenges but notes the situation is not as intense as in cities like Venice and Dubrovnik. However, he stresses the importance of balancing tourism with the quality of life for residents. Bruges is working towards encouraging “quality tourism” over sheer visitor numbers.

Mayor Dirk De Fauw (CD&V) stated:

**”We will continue to focus on quality tourism in the coming years by encouraging residential tourism and even curbing day tourism somewhat.”**

The city council is also discussing potential tax increases on buses transporting large groups of tourists. Alderman for Tourism Minou Esquenet explains that the aim is to ensure day-trippers contribute more to the city’s costs. While taxation is complex, she emphasizes that it is a necessary step.

Alderman for Tourism Minou Esquenet (CD&V) added:

**”We are looking at the possibilities of having day tourists make a larger financial contribution. Taxing the buses with groups of tourists more is one of the options we are looking into.”**

In 2024, approximately 7 million tourists visited Bruges, the majority being day-trippers. Residential tourism also experienced a slight increase. However, city officials adjusted their reporting methodology for visitor numbers, for the first time excluding visitors from surrounding municipalities.

According to their estimates, including those visitors, the total count could have reached 91 million. Officials may have taken this step to manage public perception of overtourism, which remains a growing concern in the city.

Authorities note that Bruges faces challenges related to infrastructure strain, rising housing costs, and decreasing local support for mass tourism, prompting a reassessment of visitor management strategies.

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