Overtourism countermeasures reached new heights as Nice banned 900+ passenger cruise ships while Paris introduced “cultural competency fees.” Visitors must now pass a 10-question literature test via app – miss more than three, and you’ll pay surplus taxes.
Sample questions include identifying Rimbaud’s birth year and interpreting Sartre quotes. “We’re protecting our soul from selfie-stick barbarians,” explained Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Those scoring 100% get free macarons at participating patisseries.
Meanwhile, Nice’s new cruise limits already reduced waterfront crowds by 40%. “Finally, I can hear the waves over suitcase wheels,” sighed local artist Jacques Monet (no relation). Is cultural gatekeeping the future of tourism?
