(Milan) The Italian city of Venice announced new limits on the size of tourist groups on Saturday. It is the latest measure to reduce the pressure of mass tourism on the city known for its canals and gondolas.
From June, groups will be limited to 25 people, around half the capacity of a tourist bus, and the use of loudspeakers, “which can cause confusion and disruption”, will be prohibited, said the City in a press release.
Municipal security official Elisabetta Pesce said the measures aim to improve the movement of groups in the historic center of Venice as well as the heavily visited islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
The city has already announced plans to test a new fee for day tourists this year. The fee of 5 euros ($7.31) per person will apply for 29 peak days between April and mid-July, including most weekends. It aims to regulate crowds, encourage longer visits and improve the quality of life of Venice residents.
The United Nations cultural agency cited the impact of tourism on the fragile lagoon city as a major factor in its decision to include Venice on UNESCO’s list of heritage in danger.
The city managed to get through this first time by limiting the arrival of large cruise ships via the Giudecca Canal, and again in September, when it announced the deployment of a rate for day-trippers, which had been delayed due to the decline in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic.