Tourists in the Canary Islands who fail to pay fines for minor infractions could face entry bans, as European holiday hotspots crack down on unruly behaviour. The measures are part of a broader trend across the continent, where authorities are introducing hefty penalties for everything from wearing flip-flops while driving to reserving sunbeds and disappearing.
In Spain's Balearic Islands, including Mallorca and Ibiza, public drinking fines can reach €3,000 (£2,615). Portugal's Albufeira has banned wearing swimwear away from the beach, with fines up to €1,500 (£1,307). Even small infractions, like unbuckling a seatbelt before the plane stops taxiing in Turkey, now carry a €62 (£54) penalty.
Authorities say the rules aim to protect residents and responsible holidaymakers. 'The rules, while they might sound rigid and punitive when listed out, are all about encouraging responsible and empathetic travelling,' said Jessica Harvey Taylor, Head of Press at the Spanish Tourism Office in London. In Malaga, a new campaign outlines expected behaviour, including dressing respectfully and avoiding littering, with fines up to €750 (£650).
Other European destinations are following suit. Italy's Cinque Terre fines hikers wearing inappropriate footwear up to €2,500 (£2,180). France issues on-the-spot fines of €90 (£78) for smoking on public beaches. Collecting a seashell in Greece could cost €1,000 (£870), while swimming in Venice's canals carries a €350 (£305) penalty.
'Locals are fed up,' said responsible tourism advocate Birgitta Spee-König. 'These fines are signals that communities want to reclaim space. It's not that tourists are worse – it's more that the tolerance has gone.' The trend reflects a shift from codes of conduct in fragile areas to mainstream resorts, as authorities seek to balance tourism with local quality of life.
