Venice to limit size of tourist groups in bid to ease pressure of huge crowds
Groups will be limited to 25 people from June, roughly half the capacity of a tourist bus. Loudspeaker use will also be banned.
Saturday 30 December 2023 18:32, UK
The Italian city of Venice is to limit the size of tourist groups.
The restrictions were announced on Saturday in a bid to reduce the pressure of mass tourism on the canal city.
June will see groups limited to 25 people - roughly half the capacity of a tourist bus.
The use of loudspeakers will also be banned, the city said in a statement, amid "confusion and disturbances".
Elisabetta Pesce, the official with responsibility for the city's security, said the policies were aimed at improving the movement of groups.
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Venice has already announced plans to trial a new fee for day-trippers.
Each person will be charged a fee of five euros on 29 peak days between April and mid-July.
With those days set to include most weekends, the aim is to regulate crowds and encourage longer visits.
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The impact of tourism was cited by the UN cultural agency as a major factor when it twice considered placing Venice on UNESCO's list of heritage sites in danger.
The rollout of the day-tripper fees was initially delayed when tourism declined during the COVID pandemic.