A famous city has implemented new regulations to manage excessive tourism and improve the quality of life for residents. The new measures prohibit groups of tourists from exceeding 25 people, with the exception of children under 2 and school groups.
Venice, abandoned by residents due to overtourism – Photo Adevărul
In addition, in Venice, tour guides are no longer allowed to use loudspeakers, to reduce the noise and discomfort of the public. These rules are also valid on the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Violation of these regulations can attract significant fines, up to 500 euros, according to Euronews. The measures came after the city trialled a €5 per person charge for day-trippers between April and July, but it failed to have the expected impact, generating €2.2 million without significantly reducing visitor numbers.
Local authorities, including municipal official Elisabetta Pesce, said the aim of the policies is to improve the movement of groups through the historic city center and surrounding islands. The authorities also hope that the new regulations will help improve the lives of residents and protect Venice’s cultural heritage.
“I think it’s beneficial,” said Edie Rubert, an 81-year-old local woman, Reuters reports.
“It would be even better to reduce it more. Because you can’t walk the narrow streets along the canals when these groups are here”she added, saying the situation is even worse when she has to use her shopping cart.
Overtourism has driven residents out of Venice
Venice has also adopted measures to reduce the impact of tourism, including limiting the arrival of large cruise ships and implementing a day-tripper tax, previously delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sebastian Fagarazzi, co-founder of “Venezia Autentica” Tourist Enterprise, said that additional actions are needed.
“It’s probably a good decision, but it won’t be enough. Tourism in Venice drove out 72% of residents in the last 70 years, only 28% remain”, he said. The historic center of Venice had over 170,000 residents in 1954, according to the municipal authorities. Last year, their number dropped to 49,000.
“As a result, it is not enough to make groups smaller or ask people to pay a small tourist tax. Tourism must be rethought so that the local community is supported“, added Fagarazzi, whose organization intends to encourage more sustainable tourism.
These initiatives are part of a larger effort to regulate tourism and protect Venice from the negative effects of mass tourism.
