Popular tourist destinations enforce boundaries, restrictions due to increase in visitors

As the world rears its head from the pandemic and the travel restrictions that came along with it, tourists are returning to popular destinations in full force. While there are benefits of a reinvigorated travel industry, there are boundaries that have been put in place – and some that are in the process of coming to fruition – to help manage the influx of visitors that are making their way to these locations.

NBC News examined some of the drawbacks of the post-pandemic travel boom for certain places and what is being done to ensure that local communities and environments stay intact.

Lake Tahoe, California

Since the pandemic, Lake Tahoe, like many locations, has seen a major increase in tourism. While this can come with its positives, there have been some downsides. Fodors noted that “Lake Tahoe has a people problem” and listed the city as one travelers should reconsider visiting in 2023.

“Amid the pandemic and the great migration, there was an influx of people moving to the mountains, as well as people with second homes in the area coming to live in Tahoe permanently,” said the travel company. “And it’s caused traffic along the lake to crawl, as well as kept trails and beaches packed.”

The traffic, congested hiking paths, and litter-filled beaches that were all a byproduct of an increase in visitors not only had a negative impact on Lake Tahoe locals, but the environment as well. Fine dust, debris and tailpipe emissions due to heavy traffic make their way into the air, and this same debris makes its way into clear blue waters of the Lake by way of rainwater or melted snow.

“We’re feeling the increase of population around us,” said Andy Chapman, President and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “We all need to give nature a break, but we don’t want to tell people not to come to Tahoe. We want to educate people how to respect Tahoe.”

To help combat the issues Lake Tahoe is facing, new policies have been enacted since the pandemic, including restrictions on vacation rentals. There are also new laws aimed at vacationers, such as a $500 fine for noise complaints and using outdoor hot tubs from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m., reports NBC News.

“Locals still have concerns about the influx of tourists,” Wheeler said, “but since most vacation rentals have been outlawed, except for certain areas of town, our officers aren’t responding to as many complaints.”

Hawaii

According to Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the island is expected to have a full tourism recovery in 2025. As tourism continues making a steady incline, the state has rolled out a new program for out-of-state visitors at the heavily-trafficked Oahu’s Diamond Head State Monument. Nonresidents are now required to pay $5 per person to enter, compared to the previous $1 per person and $5 for parking.

“Before we put the timed reservation system in place, Diamond Head could have more than 6,000 visitors on a busy day,” said Curt Cottrell, administrator of Hawaii’s Division of State Parks, to NBC News. “Everyone wanted to hike at sunrise or in the morning, and the parking lot could be a crushing mass of walk-ins, Ubers, rental cars and trolleys.”

The new system only allows 3,000 daily park visitors and divides them throughout the day.

“Now the summit isn’t crowded, there aren’t long lines at the bathrooms and we’re generating four times the revenue with half the people,” Cottrell said.

A $50 green fee, which would be charged to nonresident visitors to help protect Hawaii’s natural resources, is also being considered by the Hawaii Legislature.

U.S. National Parks

NBC News reports that a timed vehicle reservation program will start up again this summer at Rocky Mountain, Glacier and Arches national parks. The reservation fee is separate from the standard vehicle entry fee collected at most parks.

“Visitation numbers continue to climb toward pre-pandemic levels,” Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, chief spokesperson for the National Park Service, told NBC News. “Parks piloting these systems are seeing less congestion at the entrance stations, on the roads and trails, and in parking areas, resulting in improved visitor experiences and visitor safety.”

Roshae Hemmings is an arts and culture magazine journalist from St. Louis, MO. A graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism, Roshae has bylines in the Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and 5280 Magazine discussing topics ranging from pop culture, social justice and eat and drink. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys eating food as much as learning about the story behind it. You can reach Roshae via email at roshaehemmings@detourxp.com.