The latest moves to reduce the negative impact of overtourism on Venice, Italy, have come into force, in the shape of a ban on loudspeakers and a cap on tour group sizes in the historic centre, and the islands Burano, Murano, and Torcello.
Up to 25 million tourists per year
The charm of the lagoon destination’s waterways, bridges and world-famous squares attracts an estimated 25 million visitors per year, swamping residents who now number less than 50,000. Amid shock figures last year that showed there were more tourist beds than residential ones in the city, UNESCO warned again that the unsustainability and overcrowding created by overtourism was a major risk to the city’s unique heritage. It is in this context that local Mayor Luis Brugnaro has brought in a series of measures to avoid the destination being blacklisted by the UN body.
Steps taken so far include a 2021 ban on cruise ships and a five euro “tourist contribution” fee for day-trippers and non-overnight guests, which is currently being trialled for the first time.
Reducing “confusion and disturbances”
The loudspeaker veto and the maximum tour group size of 25 were voted for back in December 2023, came into effect on 1 June 2024, and are “aimed at improving the management of groups organised in the historic centre,” according to Elisabetta Pesce, the city security official.
Prohibiting loudspeakers, city authorities have said, should reduce “confusion and disturbances” while keeping tour groups to 25 people or fewer is needed “to safeguard the spaces of the residents” said Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official, who added that Venice still needs “to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.”
Tourist entry fee under fire
His remarks come as the city’s new “tourist contribution” or entry fee, in place on selected dates this spring and summer, has been heavily criticized for failing to reduce tourist arrivals. The levy has raised more money than anticipated in its first weeks of implementation, which opponents point to as evidence that more tourists than predicted are still choosing to come to Venice on its busiest days. The fee is also a violation of residents’ privacy, say critics, as it requires them to go online to register guests, or declare when they are entering the historic centre for lunch or a medical appointment.
But Brugnaro and his team insist the tourist charge is still in a provisional phase and is therefore yet to be assessed and perfected.
