Dubrovnik moves to Curb Overtourism Fueled by ‘Game of Thrones‘ Fame
Dubrovnik, Croatia – The Croatian city of Dubrovnik, famed forโค serving as King’s Landing in the HBO series Game of Thrones, is implementing measures to limit โคthe influx of tourists andโค prioritize sustainable tourism.โข The move comes as the city grapples with overcrowding following a surge in visitors after the show’s popularity.
Dubrovnik experienced a dramatic โincrease in โtourism after being prominently featured as the settingโ for Westeros’ capital. Marketed as the “Adriatic Pearl,” theโค city has struggled โtoโฃ manage the growing number of โvisitors, leading to dissatisfaction among both tourists and residents.
mayor Mato Frankovic announced a series of changes aimed โขat controlling visitor numbers, as reported by The Independent. Key measures include:
Mandatory pre-booking for โคvisits toโฃ the city walls, startingโ next year.
Limiting cruise ships to a maximum of two per day, with a minimum stay of eight hours. Regulations are also being applied to bus tours.
Reviewing rental housing and purchasing apartments to provide affordable housing for local families. The city is also assessing the number of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops.
Frankovic stated โthat tourists have expressed concerns about overcrowding and the city aims to improve the quality of service. “We want to achieve a higher quality of service and provide the best possible experience,” he told The โindependent*. Heโฃ also noted that in 2017, cruise ship visits were often limited to just four hours, โwith passengers quickly taking โphotos and departing.
While tourism accounts โfor 80โ percent of Dubrovnik’s revenue, the city โขrecognizes the โฃneed for a more sustainable approach. “The cities that are prepared forโข sustainable tourism will โฃbe leading,” Frankovic said. “Our โmain goal is for Dubrovnik to live.”
