Booking.com CEO’s bold strategy to address overtourism

WorldTravel
6 Aug 2025 • 8:37 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Glenn Fogel, chief executive of Booking.com’s parent company, has proposed a lottery system combined with higher costs to manage overtourism in popular destinations.
  • Fogel stated that his company's role is not to dictate where people travel, but to collaborate with governments on sustainable tourism solutions.
  • The proposal aims to limit visitor numbers in 'honeypot' locations such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, and Venice, which are experiencing unsustainable tourism levels.
  • Fogel believes a lottery system would ensure that travel to iconic places is not exclusively for the wealthy, allowing opportunities for those with lower budgets.
  • Existing examples of lottery systems for visitor access include US National Parks, certain cultural events in Japan, and the Glastonbury Festival.

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