This year, several European countries have introduced hefty fines for badly behaved tourists. But why now – and will it change how people holiday?

Picture the scene: your flight has just landed in Antalya, Turkey, and you can't wait to get off the plane. You unbuckle, spring from your seat and grab your bag from the overhead locker, eager to start your holiday. But you've been a bit too keen. A flight attendant takes you aside and issues you a swift €62 (£54) fine because you have contravened a new rule: from this year, unbuckling your seatbelt or leaving your seat before the plane has stopped taxiing carries a penalty. It's a chastening start to your trip.

This summer, Europe is cracking down on unruly holidaymakers. From wearing flip flops while driving to smoking on beaches, a new wave of tourist fines is sweeping the continent. In Portugal's popular seaside town of Albufeira, wearing swimwear off the beach could cost you up to €1,500 (£1,307). In Spain's Balearic Islands – including Mallorca and Ibiza – public drinking fines can reach €3,000 (£2,615). Even small infractions, like reserving a sunbed and disappearing, could put a dent in your holiday budget.

At first glance, these measures might seem like biting the hand that feeds, since many of these destinations earn a significant amount of money from tourism. But authorities say the rules are aimed at protecting residents – and responsible holidaymakers.

"The rules, while they might sound rigid and punitive when listed out, are all about encouraging responsible and empathetic travelling," said Jessica Harvey Taylor, Head of Press at the Spanish Tourism Office in London. "They are designed to protect the holiday experiences of the vast majority of people who behave responsibly on holiday."

In Malaga, Spain, a new 10-point Improve Your Stay campaign has been rolled out across buses, billboards and social media to outline the type of behaviour expected in the town. It includes dressing respectfully, avoiding littering, excessive noise and reckless e-scooter use. Fines for up to €750 (£650) will be handed out to those who do not comply.

Thoughtful Travel

Want to travel better? Thoughtful Travel is a series on the ways people behave while away, from ethics to etiquette and more.

A similar code of conduct in public spaces was launched this year in Albufeira, banning everything from public nudity to urinating in........

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