Venice will ban group tours of more than 25 people and prohibit the use of loudspeakers on such tours that could “cause chaos or mayhem,” the city council decided on Saturday.
The new rules also prohibit stopping on narrow roads, bridges or walkways. These are scheduled to come into effect on June 1st.
The changes are part of authorities’ efforts to limit mass tourism and its negative impacts on the lagoon city in northern Italy.
This rule applies to the city center and the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. The aim is to protect residents from noise and nuisance, the city council said in a press release.
Mass tourism has been causing problems for Venice, one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations, for years.
The historic center, with its famous St. Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge and many canals, no longer even has 50,000 permanent residents.
During high season, tourists can outnumber locals by more than 2 to 1 on some days.
Local authorities decided in September to impose a 5 euro ($5.50) entrance fee on short-term visitors from April 2024.
In a report released in the summer of 2023, the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO points to overtourism and overdevelopment as some of the main threats to the Italian hotspot, and calls for the city to be inscribed on UNESCO’s heritage list. He said the voices are getting louder. Sites that are exposed to danger.
Elisabetta Pesce, Venice’s security councilor, said limiting tour groups to fewer than 25 people and banning the use of loudspeakers would contribute to sustainable tourism.
mds/dj (AP, DPA)