Europe urged to crack down on Russian tourists

Russians are not the most popular tourists. They have a reputation for being loud, smoking, and a reluctance to obey rules. 

 
The European Commission has now signalled plans to tighten Schengen visa rules for Russian nationals following criticism from a group of European countries that say current policies are being applied inconsistently across the bloc, news network Euronews reports.

The proposed measures, which Euronews says are expected to be presented next year, would introduce what Brussels describes as “targeted restrictive visa measures” aimed at addressing security concerns linked to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. 

The move comes after 11 European nations, led by Sweden, called on the Commission to take stronger action and create a more unified approach to handling visa applications from Russian citizens. The group also includes the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden.

In a joint letter sent to Brussels, the countries expressed concern over what they described as significant differences in how member states are implementing visa guidelines introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

Those measures were designed to reduce non-essential travel from Russia, increase security screening and gradually phase out multi-entry visas in favour of single-entry permits.

The letter says inconsistent implementation has weakened the effectiveness of the policy and sent mixed political messages at a time when Europe is seeking to maintain a united stance against Moscow.

The letter urged the Commission to introduce binding restrictions, improve enforcement of existing guidelines and provide regular updates on visa issuance statistics involving Russian nationals.

France granted the highest number of Schengen visas to Russian nationals in 2025, issuing nearly 180,000 permits, an increase from the previous year. Italy followed with close to 160,000 visas, while Spain issued just under 100,000.

The letter says that it is difficult to justify large numbers of Russian tourists enjoying vacations across Europe while the conflict in Ukraine continues and civilian areas remain under attack.

Image: Gatot Adriansyah, Scop.io

Get inside: Florence rings in the changes for diners

Florence is a major drawcard for tourists in Tuscany, a beautiful and historic city that is best enjoyed off peak.

Over the summer season it can unbearably crowded.    

But now the Italian city is moving to limit one of its key drawcards - wining and dining al fresco in the old quarter.

Florence wants to restrict outdoor dining across large parts of its historic centre, hoping to rein in the impacts of mass tourism and restore public spaces to residents, travel news hub Travel Mole reports.

Under new regulations approved by the municipality in coordination with Italy’s cultural heritage authorities at the end of last year, outdoor dining structures will be banned on around 50 streets within the UNESCO-listed historic core. See https://www.visitflorence.com/

The affected areas are mainly narrow, high-traffic streets where tables, chairs, umbrellas and barriers have increasingly clogged pedestrian routes and obscured views of historic buildings.

In addition to the outright ban, stricter limitations will apply to more than 70 other locations, where restaurants may still be allowed outdoor seating but with tighter controls on size, layout and the use of coverings or fixed structures.

The goal, city officials say, is not to eliminate outdoor dining entirely but to restore balance in areas that have become overwhelmed.

The measures are scheduled to take effect in early 2026, although the city has not yet announced a precise start date.

A transition period has been built in to allow businesses time to adapt. Existing permits for outdoor dining structures must be reviewed or renewed under the new rules by mid-March 2026, effectively setting a practical deadline for compliance.

Florence’s city hall says the decision responds to long-standing complaints from residents who argue that some streets have turned into “open-air dining corridors,” making daily life difficult and eroding the character of the historic centre.

Officials also point to the need to safeguard Florence’s architectural heritage and ensure unobstructed views of iconic landmarks.

The ban will not apply uniformly across the city. Wider streets and larger piazzas, as well as areas outside the historic core, are expected to retain some form of outdoor dining.

Heritage advocates and resident groups have welcomed the move as overdue, while many restaurant owners warn it could hurt revenues, particularly during peak tourist seasons when outdoor tables are most profitable.

Image: Karon Morono, Scop.io

Cannes cracks down on cruise ship visitors

The French Riviera resort of Cannes is the latest popular destination to crack down on cruise ship numbers. 

From the start of 2026, ships accommodating more 1,000 guests will be banned from Cannes harbour.

And there will be an additional limit of 6,000 passengers per day allowed to visit the city, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Larger ships are not totally banned from visiting, but will have to tender further out at sea.

This is already the case for some of the largest ships now as the old port cannot accommodate the largest vessels.

The Cannes city council voted for new limits following the introduction of similar restrictions in nearby Nice and Villefranche.

“Cannes has become a major cruise ship destination, with real economic benefits," said Mayor David Lisnard. 

"It’s not about banning cruise ships, but about regulating and setting guidelines for their navigation.” 

Thai bars ordered to enforce the unenforceable

Thai officials are twisting themselves in knots over how to allow tourists to spend more time and money drinking alcohol but avoid problems with drunkenness.

Regular readers will remember the recent edict that bars and entertainment venues are to be allowed to stay open until 4am.

But our Thailand correspondent notes that those venues have now been ordered to set up sobering-up areas to prevent patrons from driving home drunk.

That announcement was made by the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, over the weekend, the Pattaya News reported.

Santi Promphat, deputy minister of public health, announced after the committee’s meeting that bars and nightclubs must strictly obey the rules and regulations when they are allowed to operate until 4am, starting from this Friday.

This is "to ensure patrons' safety and minimize alcohol-related incidents".

Entertainment venues in permitted zones in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Bangkok and Surat Thani will be given the right to open later, along with hotels nationwide.

Santi said that operators must follow the Entertainment Place Act and Section 29 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which prevent night-time venues from selling alcoholic beverages to people under 20 years old.

He went on to say that venue operators will also be required to conduct breathalyser tests on patrons. If customers’ alcohol level is above the legal limit of 50 milligrams per decilitre, they will need to rest in areas provided by the venues until they are sober enough to drive home.

How appealing. A zone where drunk people are sobering up. Sounds like so much fun.

In the event that a customer refuses to rest and has a breath alcohol level exceeding the legal limit, the bar operators must then contact the customer’s friends or relatives or hail public transport to arrange for their transportation at the customer’s expense.

It is unclear how this plan is expected to be enforced and many entertainment venue business owners have already brought up many issues, including logistical, with breathalysing every customer leaving a venue as well as to who would be responsible for paying for the equipment and what to do if a customer refuses to take the test.

What if a customer steps outside for a cigarette and then decides to leave? 

Apart from the logistics and doubtful law about forcing everyone to be breathalysed, how are venues meant to prevent customers from leaving? our correspondent asks.

Image: Roberto Moreno, Scop.io 

Bans imposed on Airbnb properties

The Malaysian resort island of Penang has become the first major tourist destination in south-east Asia to impose a ban on Airbnb and other short-term rental services.

Situated off Malaysia's west coast, Penang is one of the region's premier tourism destinations.

But following reports of increased noise and bad behaviour by tourists it has imposed the ban after considering such a move over the past 12 months.

Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Mayor Rajendran Anthony said the ban covered all private residential properties listed on Airbnb and other vacation rental sites.

It exempts existing serviced apartment buildings, although there are some additional restrictions placed on these, including maximum stays of three days per booking and approval from 75% of the other residents in their building.

Properties allowed to continue must be registered and pay annual fees, Travel Mole reported. They are also allowed to be rented for a maximum of 180 days a year.

In response, Airbnb said a recent study showed that three-quarters of Penang residents think renting out homes through Airbnb has a positive impact on their community.

The Penang move follows similar restrictions imposed in Florence, Italy, and in New York City.

In Norfolk, in the UK, planning authorities are calling for new powers to make it harder for properties on the Norfolk Broads and coast to be turned into Airbnbs and second homes.

The Broads Authority (BA) and North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) are both urging changes that would mean homeowners would have to secure planning permission to convert the use of their properties.

It comes amid growing concerns about the number of holiday lets and second homes in popular villages, the Eastern Daily Press reported.

It will be interesting to see how many other jurisdictions move in the same direction. In some cities, including Hobart is Tasmania, a public housing shortage has been the result of thousands of homes being used for short-stay accommodation.

Rules on flying with liquids may soon be eased

One of the most annoying aspects of flying internationally is the restriction on the amount of liquid you can carry with you as hand luggage.

On domestic flights in Australia, and many other countries, you can carry a couple of bottles of Champagne should you meet the weight allowance.

You can also carry bottles of water, should you wish.

On international flights the rules vary from airport to airport;

Sometimes you are allowed to carry a bottle of water onto your plane if it has been purchased airside. Other times, your bottle of water will be taken from you by super-keen security agents.

The rules are, of course, complete bunkum. A heavy bottle of Champagne (particularly if smashed) is a far more dangerous weapon than the tiny pocket knife I recently had taken from me at Adelaide Airport.

But there is zero common sense involved. It is all about image. And making passengers feel safe.

Good news, however, from the UK, where airports are planning to ditch the ban on liquids over 100ml by 2024, the Evening Standard newspaper reports.

Passengers travelling through UK airports will be able to carry drinks, make up and liquids of any size in their hand luggage.

New technology means passengers will be able to keep everything in their bags instead of being asked to remove laptops and ditch liquids over 100ml at screening. 

How the new scanner will be able to tell the difference between water, and say, acid, or, liquid explosives, was not revealed.

There were massive queues at British airports over the northern summer due to bag and border control checks, which would be alleviated under the plans to drop the liquid rule.

Department for Transport trials of the new technology are underway at Heathrow Airport, Gatwick and Birmingham.

Shannon and Donegal airports in Ireland, which have 3D scanners in operation, have already lifted their bans, The Times reports.

Photo by Michele Princigalli on Scopio

Japan throws open its doors to tourists

It has been a long wait, but Japan is finally ready to open its doors to visitors.

Japanese officials said this week that most independent tourists will once be allowed to visit without restrictions from October 11.

All eligible travellers will be able to travel throughout Japan with traveller caps and visa requirements imposed during the Covid period to be eliminated. This ends more than two years of closed borders.

Visitors will no longer need to book all flights and accommodation through a travel agent.

To be allowed entry, visitors will still need to prove their triple vaccination status and submit a negative Covid test result to enter, the BBC reported.

Which means you can once again dress up like I did (above) and pretend to be Japanese - probably to the bemusement of the locals.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the announcement was an historic one for Japan, which has always counted on the flow of people across its borders as a key ingredient for economic success.

“We are a nation that has flourished through the free flow of people, goods and capital," he said. ". Covid-19 interrupted all of these benefits but from October 11 Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the United States.” he said.

Japan has allowed overseas visitors since June, but they had to be part of group tours.

Japan makes entry easier for vaccinated tourists

Japan, which has been among the most cautious countries in opening up after Covid, is lifting pre-entry Covid-19 testing for fully vaccinated travellers with at least one booster shot.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that the change will be effective from September 7, Travel Mole reported.

“We plan to gradually ease border controls to allow entry procedures to be as smooth as those of other countries,” Kishida said.

“We will speed up our efforts while balancing infection measures and social and economic activities.”

Japan is one of the last major countries to drop pre-travel testing, although neighbours China and South Korea still require it.

The isolation period for people who test positive will also be reduced but Japan will continue to insist on a cap of 20,000 inbound daily visitors. Tourists are currently only allowed as part of a tour group.  

Inbound tourism so far has been sluggish with just 387,000 visitors this year, the Japan National Tourism Organisation reported.

Before the pandemic, Japan had around 32 million foreign visitors in 2019 but the number plunged to around 246,000 in 2021.

Malaysia throws open its doors to tourists

Malaysia has this week ended all remaining Covid-19 entry restrictions for foreign arrivals.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed all Covid entry requirements have been scrapped, allowing both vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists to enter the Asian nation.

Unvaxxed travellers were previously required to follow strict testing requirements, while vaccinated travellers had to show proof of vaccination in the MySejahtera app.

“However, vaccination requirements are still subject to any airline’s regulations,” Dr Noor Hisham said.

"The Traveller’s Pass no longer needs to be filled in, regardless of their vaccination status.

“Upon arrival, if a traveller is detected with a fever through the thermal scanners or found to be unwell through self-referral by the traveller, they will be referred for re-examination by medical authorities.”

Masks are still required indoors and on public transport in Malaysia, Travel Mole reported.

Image: Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur. Kate Bagoy on Scop.io 

South Africa throws open its doors

South Africa is the latest travel destination to throw caution to the wind and scrap remaining Covid-19 entry rules.

There is no longer a requirement to show proof of vaccination or present a negative Covid-19 test result on arrival.

Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu said the scrapping of requirements will give the South African tourism industry a much-needed boost.

Mandatory masks in indoor public spaces and the cap on gatherings have been dropped.

Indoor venues can also now operate at full capacity, Travel Mole reports.

Thai tourism body calls for restrictions to be lifted

The Tourism Council of Thailand has called for a further lifting of travel restrictions in a bid to lift visitor numbers. 

Thailand’s tourism industry is still in a "comatose" state, TCT President Chamnan Srisawat said.

The TCT is proposing that the Government scraps the Thailand Pass scheme and ditches the mandatory PCR test on arrival in favour of the more convenient ATK tests. 

It says that these measures Thailand can attract about16 million foreign visitors this year, Travel Mole reported.

Chamnan noted that many countries - including the US and several European and Asian nations - have been relaxing entry restrictions in order to rejuvenate their tourism sectors.

He urged the Thai Government to consider similar moves, insisting that once these restrictions are relaxed, several sectors will immediately benefit. 

These could include construction, real estate, agriculture and food, as well as the healthcare and wellness sectors. 

“Tourism operators are still struggling to maintain business as the number of tourists has yet to fully rebound due to the current travel rules," Chamnan told local media. "This obstacle needs to be removed before more operators collapse.”

The TCT president said the agency aims to attract at least 16 million foreign visitors to Thailand and 75 million local travellers. 

Image: Winsor Dobbin, Krabi

Norway ready to welcome visitors

I visited Norway many years ago and was impressed.

A friend was living in lovely Stavanger (above). It was so cold that the water at the edge of the North Sea was slushy and trying to freeze. 

But Norway is certainly on my list of places to visit again.

Think the northern lights and the midnight sun above the Arctic Circle; the world-famous fjords surrounded by spectacular mountains and glaciers; lovely cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Tromsø.

Norway is opening up to tourists post-Covid and has now lifted restrictions on testing and quarantine.

There is no longer a requirement to test on or after arrival, and close contacts will no longer have to quarantine.

There is no longer testing at the border of Norway whether you come by land, sea or air. 

Rules for quarantining and isolation if you should test positive for Covid, or if you have been in close contact with an infected person while in Norway are also eased. 

If you test positive for Covid while you are in Norway, you must isolate yourself, but you can end the isolation after four days from when the symptoms appeared, and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours. 

All adult travellers must have a Covid certificate and still register before entering the country. 

For best advice on Norway, click on www.visitnorway.com.