Top Destination Travel News from March

New entry fees, travel alerts and looking ahead to tourism's improvement in conflict zones are just some of the big topics surrounding destinations this March. Click through this slideshow to read the short stories, and click the links provided to read the full stories.

Traveling to the Galapagos Islands is getting more expensive, with a new entry fee structure that will begin on August 1, 2024. The new fee will charge adult travelers around $200 each to enter the islands, while children under twelve will be charged $100. The fee will go towards sustaining the islands' natural wonders. It is the first increase in twenty-five years.

The famed Plaza de España in Seville is one of the city's most popular attractions, but the mayor is hoping to curb illegal vendors and overtourism by charging travelers an entry fee to enjoy the plaza. He said the funds would be used for restoration and preservation of the site, which he says is "falling apart," though it was restored during an $11 million restoration effort between 2007 and 2010.

Blue Lagoon Island is reopening to cruise calls following the November 2023 incident that sunk a ferry carrying over 100 people, in which one person died. The island has since undergone an overhaul of safety policies, staff training and certification programs to ensure it becomes a safe place for travelers to enjoy.

The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 4 travel advisory warning about Haiti as gang violence and civil unrest continue to grip the half-island nation in a chokehold. The warning advises every traveler not to go to Haiti and if they are already there, to leave.

A new archaeological zone is expected to open this August in Quintana Roo. The Ichkabal Archaeological Zone will be connected to the new Maya Train and offer dozens of structures from the region's pre-Columbian history for travelers to experience.

Miami Beach is preparing to break up the spring break craziness with monthlong security measures, a curfew, early beach closures and more. Bags will be searched, DUI checkpoints will be made in popular locations along the beach and the city expects more arrests for drug possession this year.

Local officials in charge of the famed Japanese landmark Mount Fuji will be adding a tourist fee for those who want to visit the mountain, in an effort to help curb overtourism, trash and to help with sustaining the site for centuries to come.

United Airlines announced it would begin resuming flights from the U.S. to Israel beginning in April from Fort Lauderdale, sparking questions about the return to tourism in Israel.

Ukraine's State Agency for Tourism Development is partnering with strategic travel giants like Expedia, VisitBerlin and Airbnb to prepare to rebuild the country's travel and tourism industry when the conflict ends. One such plan is a war sites trail from Irpin to Kyiv. While there's no end to the war in sight, the tourism development agency is looking towards a brighter future.

Japan has launched a new bullet train to the remote and lesser-known Fukui Prefecture, a place known for dinosaurs, Zen Buddhism and hot-spring baths, but not recognized as a popular hotspot for international travelers. It'll likely become an inviting opportunity for travelers wanting to experience Japan without the crowds of tourists.

Playa del Carmen's Playa 88 beach may be lost to a new power cable project, which will run an underwater power cable to Cozumel. It would lead to the beach closing for travelers during the project's construction, and while it's unclear whether the beach would reopen following the construction project's completion, there are some who are fighting to preserve the beach for resident and tourist use.

Residents in the Spanish city of Malaga have begun an effort to reduce overtourism, with signs, stickers and general rudeness telling them to leave their city. It all began when resident and local bar owner Dani Drunko was refused when he wanted to buy the home he'd rented for ten years. It got turned into a vacation rental instead. Residents of tourist-heavy areas like Malaga have noticed a lack of housing as apartments are turned into more profitable vacation rentals, like Airbnbs. 

Officials in the popular tourist areas of Cancun and Riviera Maya, Mexico are stepping up efforts to clean up sargassum so visitors can enjoy the region's stellar beaches free of stinky seaweed this spring and summer.