Photo: LLUIS GENE / AFP / Getty Images
The party’s getting quieter at some of the world’s top tourist spots. From Spain’s Balearic Islands to the Czech Republic's Prague, destinations are rolling out rules to tame rowdy visitors, pushing travelers to seek fun elsewhere, according to British news outlet The Telegraph.
In the Balearics, Ibiza and Mallorca are curbing boozy antics with bans on late-night alcohol sales and limits of six drinks daily per guest at all-inclusive hotels. Spain’s even tracking which nationalities get the drunkest, sending reports to their embassies. Prague’s done with pub crawls, aiming for “cultured” tourists, while the Croatian city of Dubrovnik has installed noise meters to keep revelry in check in the historic Old Town, per The Dubrovnik Times. Miami Beach also aired a string of mock reality TV ads in which an influx of drunken influencers were shamed for their partying behavior:
Meanwhile, San Diego’s eyeing beach party bans; The Times reports that Paris cafe and restaurant owners are battling quiet-loving locals to keep their iconic outdoor terraces open; Bangkok has been waging war on its street-food vendors, per the BBC; Indonesia's Bali has outlawed swearing; and Amsterdam’s “Stay Away” campaign, launched in 2023, bluntly told British partiers to steer clear.
Many of these restrictive moves echo Covid-era restrictions, like the Balearics’ “rule of six” for drinks, and reflect a push against “overtourism.” Locals in places like the Canary Islands have protested visitor overload, while New Zealand’s openly chasing high-spending tourists over backpackers since 2020, per The Guardian.
Andrea Zlesáková of travel-hosting firm Kings Prague noted bans on Segways, early restaurant closings and crackdowns on pub craws, telling The Telegraph:
"We have strong demand from visitors who come to Prague for a vibrant, exciting experience, but recent restrictions make that more difficult. ... There's a clear effort to curb what's been dubbed 'alcohol tourism.' While I understand the city's motivations, for those of us organizing group activities, it's becoming harder to find experiences that meet tourists' expectations."
Tour planners are now pivoting. James Baddiley of bachelor party firm Chilli Sauce told The Telegraph that destinations like Budapest, Lisbon and Croatia's Zagreb are now go-to spots for pre-wedding parties, replacing Prague and Amsterdam. And local guides help steer groups to welcoming neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, Dubai’s nightlife is also pulling in revelers. Jay Smedley of Dubai Key caters to partiers who surprisingly face stricter vibes elsewhere than they do in the United Arab Emirates, telling The Athletic:
“We control all reservations, plus work with them on where they’d like to go.
“There are players who want to go that extra mile, whether it be a sunset yacht cruise or dinner in the middle of the desert. We also do buggies in the desert, safaris, hot air balloon rides — any request that gets sent over.”
This shift is reshaping how we travel. Destinations want upscale visitors, but party-goers are finding new hotspots to accommodate their vacation needs.