Venice to ban tourist groups of more than 25 people

It’s no secret that Venice has been struggling with mass tourism for many years now. The squares, narrow streets and bridges are often overcrowded with visitors wanting to experience – and often stop and photograph – this much-loved Italian city.

But its popularity is taking a toll, putting the city at risk of irreversible damage and pushing residents out. The canal city is aware of these issues, and has been making great efforts in the past several years to combat overtourism.

Examples of this include the banning of large cruise ships in 2021, which were previously unloading thousands of passengers every day into the historic city. And coming in spring 2024 will be the introduction of a trial entry fee of $5 (£4.30) for daily visitors.

But in recent developments, city officials have announced that it will soon forbid groups of more than 25 people, along with banning loudspeakers that are often used for large parties, as they cause “confusion and disturbances”.

Security councillor Elisabetta Pesce described the latest policies as “an important measure aimed at improving the management of groups” as well as “promoting sustainable tourism and guaranteeing the protection and safety of the city". 

She also said this decision hopes to protect locals, and encourage better flow of travellers walking around its most overcrowded areas. 

The new rules are expected to be implemented from June 2024 in the historic centre, as well as its islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Venice’s museums already have a limit of 25 people allowed to enter.

According to the Italian National Institute of Statistics, more than 13 million people visited the relatively small Italian city in 2019.  

These ever-growing numbers have given UNESCO reason to question whether it should be placed on its World Heritage Sites in Danger list, due to the irreversible changes caused by overtourism, as well as climate change.

But the island city’s efforts to tackle its problems by implementing sustainable policies have been recognised, and Venice has so far avoided being placed on the danger list.

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