Venice, one of the cities in Italy where the effects of mass tourism are most severe, has banned guided tourist groups of more than 25 people and the use of megaphones.
The decision taken by the Municipality of Venice will be effective from 1 June 2024. The municipality announced that the decision aims to promote sustainable tourism and at the same time protect the inhabitants of the city.
Groups of more than 25 tourists will no longer be allowed to visit the historic centre of Venice, as well as the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. The 25-person limit is already in place in the city's municipal museums. This corresponds to about half the capacity of standard tourist buses. Loud guiding services such as megaphones have also been banned on the grounds that they cause confusion and disturbance. The loss of population in Venice due to mass tourism is causing concerns that the city is turning into an amusement park
The increasing conversion of residential buildings in the city centre into tourist accommodation and the resulting increase in property prices are making the city uninhabitable for its inhabitants. The population in the centre of Venice has fallen from around 175,000 70 years ago to less than 50,000 today. Last September, it was announced that the number of beds for tourist accommodation in the city exceeded the population.
Last summer, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) stated that Venice was at risk of "irreversible changes in its universal value" due to problems caused by mass tourism. UNESCO therefore warned that the city could be placed on the list of heritage in danger. In recent years, the city administration has taken a series of measures to mitigate the negative effects of mass tourism with the effect of the warnings and calls of international organisations, including UNESCO, and local associations. In this context, large cruise ships were banned from entering the city centre and some criteria were introduced for short-term rentals.
The long-discussed footfall fee application will also be tested in April 2024. Starting from 25 April, a 5 euro fee will be charged for daily entries to the city during peak periods. The entrance fee will not be charged to those staying in hotels and accommodation facilities in the city. The municipality also collects taxes for each day of stay in these facilities. As a result of these measures, Venice was not included on UNESCO's list of endangered heritage sites this year.
