Tourists' favourite French island draws the line on overcrowding

As many European tourist hotspots struggle with the influx of visitors, Île-de-Brehat, an island off the coast of Brittany in France, is the latest to impose stricter rules on tourists.

In an attempt to tackle this issue, Authorities of Ile-de-Brehat decided to limit the number of visitors who want to visit this Island this summer to 4,700 between 08:30 and 14:30 from this week until August 23, Schengen News reported.

This European Union vacation destination is home to just 400 residents, while the number of daily tourists can soar to 5,000 in the summer, leading the government to implement strict measures.


“The 412 permanent residents – owners of second homes, workers, emergency services, police, customs and national defence personnel – are not affected by this quota,” as per Schengen News report.

Following France’s lead, Spain has also decided to limit daily tourist numbers to 1,300 on its Island of Ons to avoid overcrowding.

Majorca, part of the Balearic Islands, has also seen significant anti-tourism protests, with thousands rallying against the adverse effects of tourism on their communities.

In response to these concerns, the Spanish government has reduced the number of tourist accommodations on Mallorca, leading to a decrease in visitor numbers. Officials on the island noted that the high number of tourists was threatening the harmony between residents and visitors.