Only rich tourists welcome as these 6 countries take controversial step to stamp out overtourism

As journey restrictions ease, some nations are being extra selective about who they welcome post-pandemic.

Final week, New Zealand’s tourism minister reiterated his want to draw “prime quality vacationers” somewhat than those that campervan across the nation “on $10 [€7] a day by consuming dried noodles.”

All through the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism boards world wide have been experimenting with selective entry policies. Now, they’re implementing restoration plans – lots of which echo this ‘high quality over amount’ mentality.

Lowering overtourism may have a optimistic affect on the environment and native communities in popular destinations. However does this imply journey will turn into reserved for the tremendous wealthy?

With rising fuel costs signalling the tip of the €10 flight period, in keeping with a current BBC Radio 4 interview with Ryanair chief exec Michael O’Leary, the times of budget travel might be behind us.

So listed below are the nations focusing on rich guests as tourism bounces again.

The Cayman Islands welcomes excessive internet price distant employees

Lengthy a haven for luxurious travellers, the Caribbean Cayman Islands sought to safe their high-end picture – even in the course of the pandemic.

Launched in 2020, the International Citizen Concierge Program (GCCP) provides remote workers the possibility to make this British Abroad Territory their dwelling. These incomes upwards of $100,000 (€98,666) per yr can apply for a two-year visa for an annual payment of $1,469 (€1,449).

Underneath the scheme, the nation’s official tourism web site invitations “professionals and digital nomads alike [to] embrace a distant life-style and immerse themselves absolutely within the bespoke luxurious, journey, tradition and great thing about the Cayman Islands.”

Fiji targets a progress in customer spend

Throughout the pandemic, Fiji positioned itself as a retreat for billionaires.

Again in June 2020, the nation launched ‘Blue Lanes’ for “yachters trying to escape the pandemic in paradise.” In a tweet, Fijian PM Frank Bainimarama invited billionaires with personal jets to hire their very own islands.

Pre-COVID, the tourism business made up 38 per cent of Fiji’s economic system. To kickstart a revival, the nation is putting continued concentrate on luxury travel.

Tourism Fiji’s Company Plan for 2022 to 2024 pledges to “appeal to and develop excessive worth buyer segments” and encourage a “progress in customer spend” to advertise sustainable tourism.

Indonesia dances round a Bali backpacker ban

In September 2021, Indonesia joined the checklist of nations in search of ‘high quality’ guests post-pandemic.

“We’ll intention for high quality tourism in Bali, so we received’t enable backpackers to enter as soon as the reopening plan for worldwide travellers is formally put in place within the close to future,” mentioned Indonesia’s coordinating minister of maritime and funding affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, in keeping with a report within the Bali Solar.

He later clarified that he was referring to filtering out guests who may violate the nation’s well being or immigration guidelines.

However the 2022 arrival of luxurious hospitality manufacturers like Banyan Tree and Jumeirah in Bali recommend the island is tipping additional away from its backpacker previous.

Montserrat lures profitable digital nomads

Fancy making the mountainous Caribbean island of Montserrat your private home for a yr? In case your annual revenue is above $70,000 (€69,000), now you possibly can.

Launched in February 2021, the Distant Work Stamp invitations high-earning digital nomads to “work remotely and safely from an unique location.”

The applying payment is $500 (€493).

New Zealand snubs ‘$10-a-day’ campervanners

New Zealand’s post-pandemic tourism restoration scheme has its sights set on high-net-worth people.

“These are usually not the blokes that soar in a camper van and…get round our nation on $10 [€7] a day by consuming dried noodles,” mentioned Tourism Minister Stuart Nash talking on the Tourism Export Council of New Zealand annual convention in August 2022.

As an alternative, he needs to draw guests who “spend a little bit more cash, keep a little bit bit longer.”

New Zealand lastly reopened its borders in August 2022, with plans to higher handle the tourism business by avoiding overcrowding and enhancing sustainability.

Thailand tries to shake its backpacker legacy

Thailand’s tourism business is steadily recovering after months of COVID restrictions, which examined guests’ willingness to fork out for costly quarantine schemes.

Eager to capitalise on this and shake the nation’s long-standing picture as a backpacker haven, authorities ministers have requested lodges and enterprise to chorus from luring vacationers with huge reductions.

“We can not let individuals come to Thailand and say as a result of it is low-cost,” mentioned Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at a tourism occasion in July 2022.

As an alternative, he prompt the nation ought to concentrate on elevating its worth as a premium journey vacation spot, stories Reuters.

Thailand additionally hopes to lure high-earning digital nomads with its new 10-year ‘work from Thailand’ visa. Solely open to these incomes upwards of $80,000 (€78,965) per yr, the visa solidifies the nation’s push for rich guests.