Venice Implements New Measures to Curb Mass Tourism

Venice, facing an influx of an estimated 25 million visitors annually, has introduced a series of measures to address overcrowding and mass tourism. Starting today, the city has banned loudspeakers and restricted tour groups to a maximum of 25 people.

These new regulations aim to improve the visitor experience in Venice and its neighboring islands, including Burano, Murano, and Torcello. Announced in December, the measures come into effect this Saturday as part of ongoing efforts to manage the city's overwhelming tourist numbers.

The Italian canal city's recent rules prohibit the use of loudspeakers, which have been deemed disruptive. Elisabetta Pesce, responsible for the city's security, highlighted that the new regulations are designed to better manage organized groups in the historic center.

This initiative is the latest in a series of actions taken by Venice to control mass tourism. In April, the city introduced a €5 fee for day trips during the summer to reduce crowd numbers. Simone Venturini, Venice's tourism chief, emphasized the need for balance between tourists and residents, aiming to safeguard local spaces and discourage excessive day-tripper arrivals on certain days.

Despite these measures, some residents have expressed concerns, advocating for more focus on bolstering the local population and enhancing essential services. The number of tourist accommodations in Venice surpassed the number of official residents for the first time last year, with fewer than 50,000 people now residing in the historic center.

In August, UNESCO recommended that Venice be added to its list of World Heritage sites in Danger due to issues of overcrowding and unsustainability. The organization criticized the Italian state's current efforts as insufficient and lacking detail.

Venice narrowly avoided being blacklisted in 2021 when Italy prohibited cruise ships from entering its lagoon to protect the ecosystem. UNESCO members decided not to add Venice to the endangered list at that time, partly because of the then-proposed day-tripper fee.