New regulations introduced on Thursday have been welcomed by both Venetians and tourists, aiming to curb the size of tourist groups in an effort to alleviate overcrowding. The rules limit tourist parties to a maximum of 25 people, and prohibit guides from using loudspeakers to facilitate smoother pedestrian traffic and create a quieter environment for residents.
Edie Rubert, an 81-year-old local, expressed her support, stating, "I think it's right. It would be better to reduce it more. Because you can't walk along the narrow canalside streets when these groups are there," she added, noting the inconvenience caused when she needs to use her shopping trolley. In April, Venice pioneered a visitor payment system, designed to discourage daytrippers from arriving during peak times.
Sebastian Fagarazzi, co-founder of 'Venezia Autentica' (Authentic Venice), highlighted the need for further measures. "It's probably a good decision in that regard, but it's not going to be enough. Tourism in Venice has pushed out 72 per cent of the inhabitants in the past 70 years, so 28 per cent only remain today," he said. Venice's historic center, which had over 170,000 residents in 1954, saw a decline to just over 49,000 last year.
Fagarazzi emphasized the necessity to reconsider tourism to support the local community, a goal his organization aims to achieve through promoting more sustainable tourism. The restrictions, which apply to the city center as well as the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, were also endorsed by some tourists. Mark Kerr, a visitor from Scotland, commented, "Yeah, I think it's good. I mean, it's very, very congested in a lot of places." He noted the long queues at St Mark's Basilica and suggested that better management is needed.
