Italy’s Portofino has introduced no-waiting zones to dissuade tourists from ‘lingering’ in popular areas to take pictures, as reported by the BBC. The main goal is to combat over tourism and make traffic flow more smoothly. Portofino, a small Italian village of 400 inhabitants about 30 kilometers from Genoa, sees hundreds of tourists flocking to the area every year. The large influx has pushed the local elected officials to take some actions.
The measure “is not for the tourist who arrives alone, but for those who get off the cruise ships with guides,” justified the city’s mayor, Matteo Viacava. The decree will be in force at least until October 15, 2023. It is therefore forbidden to stop walking in the “red zones” between 10:30 and 18 hours. Visitors who stop to take selfies risk a fine of between 68 and 275 euros, although the measure is primarily intended to raise awareness among tourists rather than punish them.
Portofino is one of the most characteristic and renowned villages of Liguria, located only one hour away from Cinque Terre, in an attractive natural bay surrounded by a steep valley covered with olive trees. It is a beautiful village and port on a peninsula along the Ligurian coast in the province of Genoa.
It is a typical Ligurian fishing village, with its colorful houses arranged around its harbor and many picturesque views of the yacht-filled port. With its spectacular cliffs, seaside views and delicious restaurants, Portofino is one of the best places to visit in northern Italy.
Similar measures have been appearing in different parts of the world. In portions of the UK’s Tower of London, selfies are banned for security reasons near the crown jewels housed there, according to the BBC; the states of California and New York have also banned selfies in zoos and other places with wild animals. In terms of trying to control over tourism, there’s a quota on the number of visitors arriving on the island of Porquerolles, France; in certain creeks of Marseille visitors need to book a time slot in advance; Barcelona and Venice have implemented measures to limit the number of cruises docking on their harbor.
In southern Italy, the mayor of Sorrento had issued a decree in 2022 prohibiting tourists from walking around shirtless once they left the beach. “This indecent behavior can cause discomfort and unease among the resident population and visitors. This can give a negative image of the quality of life of Sorrento, with significant repercussions on its reputation and tourism,” justified Massimo Coppola. Tourists who did not respect this rule were fined by the police and had to pay a fine of 25 to 500 euros.
