#overtourism

Peru's Ministry of Culture set visiting rules for Machu Picchu in 2027 in Resolución Ministerial N.º 000408-2026-MC, published Oct. 31, La República reports. Up to 5,600 visitors a day are allowed on 147 high-season days (Jan. 1-3, March 25-28, June 19 to Nov. 2, and Dec. 29-31); the rest of the year the cap is 4,500. Entry is capped at 800 visitors an hour, a limit tied to the Hiram Bingham road, where up to 24 vehicles are authorised. Mountain routes get set entry slots at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., and places are split by circuit, route and sales channel.

Separately, the ministry said on Nov. 4 that visitors can now check whether a ticket is valid on the TuBoleto platform using an ID number plus a ticket code or visit date, including tickets bought through agencies, to fight fakes, Gestión reports.

Instead of trusting a reseller's confirmation, check the ticket yourself on TuBoleto before you travel.

Banning State Park, more than 6,000 acres along the Kettle River near Sandstone, Minnesota, is closing most of its grounds for upgrades because annual visits have tripled since 2020, MPR News reports. "Our current park infrastructure is really straining to support those numbers," park supervisor Clarissa Payne said in a release.

The campground closed in September; all parking areas and hiking trails close Nov. 9. Plans include more parking, new restrooms and campground showers, and accessibility upgrades for picnic areas, parking lots, trails and campsites. Day-use areas are set to reopen in October 2027, possibly in part next summer if construction allows, and the campground stays shut until May 2028. Created in 1963, the park includes the ruins of a sandstone quarry and a former town site.

Instead of the closed trails, the snowmobile trail along the park's north and west sides and the Eldon climbing area at the south end stay open.

Venice will charge day visitors an entry fee of up to €10 on 72 dates between Good Friday and mid-August 2027, up from 60 days this year, city authorities said on October 16, dpa reports (via Yahoo News). Officials held off on a steep increase, although €30 or more had been discussed, and the national government must approve a higher fee.

This year more than 650,000 visitors paid, bringing in over €5 million; booking at least three days ahead cost €5. Overnight guests are exempt but pay tourist tax. The city says the aim is managing crowds, not revenue, but visitor numbers have not fallen; fewer than 50,000 people live in the historic centre against an estimated 25 million-plus visitors a year.

Instead of a peak-season day trip on a fee date, consider staying overnight, which exempts you from the fee, or visiting outside the April-August fee period.

Since October 16, visitors to the Twelve Apostles on Victoria's Great Ocean Road must book a timeslot through the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Slots are free for now, but the state government plans to introduce a fee; walk-ups can book at the entrance but may wait if the precinct is full. Local MP Richard Riordan has criticised the planned fee.

The $126 million Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre, funded $88 million federally and $38 million by Victoria, was co-designed with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and has a 230-seat cafe, rooftop lookout and parking for more than 950 vehicles, according to the government. A path to the viewing platforms makes a walk of about 2 km return. Only seven stacks remain standing.

Instead of turning up unbooked on a busy summer day, consider booking an early or late timeslot online before you set off.