city of venice The city council decided on Saturday to ban groups of tourists larger than 25 people and ban the use of loudspeakers on such tours, which could “cause chaos and mayhem”.
The new rules also prohibit stopping on narrow roads, bridges or walkways. These are scheduled to come into effect on June 1st.
This change is part of the authorities’ plan Efforts to limit large numbers of tourists and its negative impact on the lagoon cities of 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 Venice, one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations, has been causing problems 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.
In September, local authorities decided to raise the entrance fee to 5 euros ($5.50). For short-term visitors from April 2024.
In a report released in the summer of 2023, the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO pointed out that: overtourism Overdevelopment has been cited as some of the main threats to Italy’s hotspot, prompting calls to make cities safer. UNESCO World Heritage List It’s dangerous.
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)