Last year Venice narrowly escaped being put on the UNESCO’s list of heritage sites in danger, due to the damage being done to its delicate ecosystem by overtourism. So it announced a limitation on large cruise ships entering the Giudecca Canal and this year, on 29 days between April and July, day-trippers to the city will have to pay a €5 entrance charge.
But as it heralded in the New Year, Venice was still desperately worried by the prospect of a repeat of last year’s massive tourism flows, which are not expected to be put off by the €5 entrance fee. So now it has banned tourist groups of over 25 people (about half a full tour coach) and the use of loudspeakers.
Issue solved? We don’t think so. Groups of up to 25 are still too big for the lagoon city, and its little islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. And, while we do welcome the loudspeaker ban, we trust tour companies will invest in individual headphones and not expect tour guides to out-shout each other!
