New measures are being brought to tackle overtourism in the historic city, which is hugely popular with visitors
A city struggling with overtourism is to due to bring in new measures following a major influx of visitors in recent years. Dubrovnik in Croatia is the most overcrowded city in the world, according to Responsible Travel, with as many as 27 tourists for every resident at its peak.
The popular city has attracted even more tourists following the popularity of fantasy series Game of Thrones, with visitors able to see the backdrops that made up the show’s King’s Landing. But Dubrovnik’s mayor has revealed that new measures are being introduced in an effort to reduce overcrowding in the Old City, where most of visitors concentrate within the historic walls.
Mato Frankovic told The Independent daily travel podcast that the new rules would help visitors avoid overcrowding. He said from next year the city walls would only be accessible to walk on if booked in advance.
Meanwhile, cruise ships are being limited to two per day under a minimum stay of eight hours, in the hope of spreading the flow of passengers.
Authorities are conducting an audit of rental accommodation, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes in the city to reach a sustainable number. The city is also buying up apartments to let to families with reduced rents and opening a new school in a palace.
Mr Frankovic told the publication: “We are fully aware that 80 per cent of Dubrovnik citizens are [making a] living out of tourism. If you give opportunity for to tourists to stay longer, to enjoy longer, they’re actually spending much more.
“Tourists do not want anymore to be in overcrowded cities. Step by step, the overcrowded cities will be pushed on the margins of the tourism.
“The cities that are prepared for sustainable tourism will be leaders. Our main goal is for Dubrovnik to be alive.”
The plan revolves around the Dubrovnik Pass, which costs €40 a day and covers museums, galleries and monasteries as well as the city walls.
Responsible Travel, sustainable travel agency, says the population of Dubrovnik’s Old City is now just 1,500, down from 5,000 in 1991, with “homes and flats have been turned over to tourist accommodation which destroys any sense of community, erodes authentic culture, and pushes up property prices”.
Despite the crowding, Dubrovnik was recently named Europe’s safety city due to its low levels of crime. The study by Riviera Travel took into account current crime levels and the increase in crime over the past five years.