Venice bans megaphones and limits groups to combat overtourism

The city of Venice at Italy should be a little quieter. At least, that is the hope of the city council, which banned tour guides from use megaphones and limited groups to 25 people . The measure is part of an effort by the local government to regain some control of the city after a record number of tourists following the pandemic.

Exceptions to the new rules, which came into effect on Thursday, include children under 2, as well as schoolchildren and educational tours. The guidelines were due to come into effect in June but were delayed because many guides had already booked group tours.

Tourists and guides who violate the 25-person limit or use loudspeakers will face fines from US$50 to US$100 (R$285 to R$571). The rules also apply to the Venetian islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

In April, Venice became the first city in the world to charge a entrance fee of 5 euros (around R$31), in a program that lasted 29 days and earned the city more than US$2.5 million (R$15.6 million).

There were demonstrations on the day the tax was implemented, with residents holding up signs and showing their passports in protest at the idea of ​​turning the city into a theme park or museum.

However, the city is considering doubling the fee when it is reinstated, likely later this year. During the trial period, the fee was paid more than 485,000 times, according to the city.

Venice is not the only one struggling with the overtourism . Protests have been taking place across Europe in recent months, with demonstrations in the Netherlands, Greece and Spain. Authorities on the Greek island of Santorini consider limit the number of cruise ships that can dock on their shores.

In early July, protesters marched through popular tourist areas in the Spanish city of Barcelona, ​​spraying unsuspecting visitors with water guns while chanting “tourists go home.”

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