Austria and Malta impose new fines and restrictions on tourists

Austria and Germany have introduced temporary bans on exiting certain motorways during peak holiday weekends. Drivers who leave the highway without a valid local reason can face high fines, and in some cases police patrols target foreign‑registered vehicles. The bans apply mainly in Tyrol and Salzburg from May to November, with stricter daily closures in Salzburg’s A10 corridor.

Malta has also tightened its tourist regulations. New rules give police and local guards authority to issue on‑site fines, seize passports, or revoke short‑term stay permits for visitors who break public‑order, anti‑smoking, or traffic laws. The measures respond to a surge in visitors, especially from Poland, and growing resident complaints about disruptive behaviour.

Both countries aim to curb congestion and anti‑social conduct by imposing stricter penalties on non‑resident travelers.