Tourism woes: Italy imposes new restrictions to curb influx

Holidays are in full swing. This means that tourists from all over the world have set off en masse. The warm countries of Europe are most besieged every year. However, it turns out that in 2024, the number of people wanting to visit them has surpassed previous records. The authorities of Greece, Spain, and Italy are struggling with the huge number of tourists. Local residents emphasise that they cannot live normally. Housing, food, and product prices have gone up, all because of the visitors.

In Spain, the situation is so complicated that local residents have decided to take matters into their own hands. When they see people from outside the country in restaurants or on the street, they shout at them, drench them with water, and do everything to make them not want to spend another moment in Madrid or Barcelona. Admittedly, this is an extreme approach to tourists, but it will likely work on some of them. The Italian authorities, wanting to avoid such problems, decided to introduce various restrictions.

On Thursday, 15th August, the Ferragosto festival is celebrated in Italy. Authorities are aware that this is the peak time for tourist arrivals. That is why in many regions of the country, the authorities have decided to introduce various new rules aimed at limiting the effects of excessive tourism. These include new traffic lights, limits, and setting up reservations for beach access.

From Trentino and the Cinque Terre in the north to Capri and Sardinia in the south, various strategies have been initiated to counteract traffic jams and crowds and regulate the influx of tourists. Authorities are concerned about people's safety and the condition of the natural environment. Local authorities also aim to ensure permanent residents' good quality of life, especially in small towns.

In Florence, the authorities have restricted the mass phenomenon of turning apartments in the historic center into short-term rentals for tourists. Changes have also been implemented at viewpoints on the Alta Via del Sale near Cuneo in Piedmont. The issue is cars that often stop there, blocking traffic. That is why the authorities will launch unique traffic lights. This will allow stopping only for 20 minutes. Tourists will take pictures, admire the panorama, and leave.

The authorities of Braies in South Tyrol, famous for its beautiful lake, to which thousands of tourists try to go, have also introduced restrictions. Currently, a digital reservation is required to enter the road leading there. Additionally, in Sardinia, it has been decided to introduce a limit on beachgoers to prevent overcrowding and damage to coastal sites.

That is not all. On the island of Capri, it has been decided that a double docking fee for yachts is necessary. Additionally in the Naples area, there are limits on the number of people allowed on free beaches. All for the safety and comfort of tourists and local residents.