With over 80% of tourists focussing on just 20% of the country, France is urging visitors to stay away from its top tourist spots this summer, and measures such as daily quotas, scheduled ticketing and higher prices are being considered.
Thìngs are different across the English channel, where VisitBritain has joined forces with The National Lottery to boost domestic tourism. To get more Brits and foreign tourists to visit attractions this summer, anyone playing the National Lottery can redeem a free £25 voucher against entry tickets to hundreds of top attractions across the UK.
Italy, like France, is grappling with over-tourism but uncertain about the best course of action. While tourism bosses are in raptures over the sold-out summer, some destinations are resorting to strict measures. Portofino has implemented fines of up to €275 for tourists who linger for selfies, and wearing flip-flops or sandals when walking the Cinque Terre can set you back €2,500. In Florence you cannot eat snacks outside on certain streets, and sitting on Rome’s Spanish Steps can lead to a fine of €250.
But Venice is the real cause celèbre, as the latest number of available beds for tourists is 48,000 while the city’s resident population is down to just over 49.000, and continues to dwindle.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
