Venice To Ban Large Tourist Groups and Loudspeakers

Venice, the capital of Italy’s Veneto region which also houses the best tourist attractions in the world is set to ban mass tourism and loudspeakers.

Venetians have been face-to-face with noise pollution from visitors for the longest time. The only period the town experienced some quiet was during the pandemic. Events have, however, gone back to factory settings as lockdown restrictions have been eased across the globe.

According to the Venice city council, a group of more than 25 tourists will be banned from June 1, 2024. The authorities explained through a statement that the move had become necessary due to the dangers of visitors sometimes outnumbering the town’s residents. The issue of a ban on loudspeakers is also in line with the prevention of excessive noise making in the area.

The new regulations set by the city authorities also entail a cap on visitors stopping at narrow streets, bridges, or places of passage, DW reports. To further facilitate the regulations, the city will charge €5 for admission fees from short-term visitors from April 2024.

Venice’s city councilor for security, Elisabetta Pesce, defends the position of the city authorities as she describes it as one that “will contribute to sustainable tourism”.

Venice is a UNESCO Heritage Destination that boasts the world’s most famous tourist attractions such as Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Murano, Burano, and Torcello Islands.

In summer 2023, several Venetians called for the city to be placed on the “UNESCO List of Heritage Sites in Danger” after the latter reported that the city was experiencing over-tourism.