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Venice Prohibits Large Tourist Groups and Loudspeakers

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New regulations have been implemented in Venice, banning the use of loudspeakers and restricting tour group sizes to a maximum of 25 people. Officials state that these measures aim to mitigate the effects of over-tourism on the Italian city. Venice’s historic canals make it one of Europe’s most popular destinations. Earlier this year, Venice introduced a €5 (£4) daily entry fee, following a 2021 ban on cruise ships docking in the historic area.

Over-tourism is a critical issue for Venice, a city with a population of approximately 250,000 that welcomed over 13 million visitors in 2019. Although visitor numbers have declined since then, they are projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels soon. Many local residents have left the historic island city due to concerns about being overwhelmed by tourists.

According to Ocio, a citizen association monitoring housing in Venice, the historic quarter now has about 49,000 tourist beds—exceeding the number available for residents. These new tourism rules follow warnings from Unesco experts last year, suggesting Venice could be added to the list of world heritage sites in danger due to climate change and mass tourism. The UN cultural body ultimately decided not to add Venice to the list, acknowledging efforts to address these issues through an anti-flooding system and measures to curb the impact of mass tourism.

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Venice Set to Approve €5 Charge for Day-Trip Tourists

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Venice is poised to greenlight a trial €5 (£4.30; $5.35) levy for daily tourists as a strategy to manage tourism. This fee will apply to all visitors aged 14 and above and necessitates advance booking for entry to the city. Simone Venturini, a city council member overseeing tourism, has disclosed that this trial period will take place during peak tourist seasons in the upcoming year.

Venice is grappling with the consequences of excessive tourism, and it’s among Europe’s most visited cities. Its compact size, measuring just 7.6 sq km (2.7 sq miles), hosted nearly 13 million tourists in 2019, according to Italian national statistics. Post-pandemic, visitor numbers are anticipated to surpass pre-pandemic levels.

The primary aim of this fee is to encourage day-trippers to select off-peak days for their visits. However, tourists staying overnight will be exempt from this charge. The city intends to evaluate and potentially refine this fee as necessary.

Earlier this year, Venice was suggested to be included on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in danger due to the impacts of climate change and mass tourism, which pose a threat of irreversible alterations to the city. In 2021, large cruise ships were banned from accessing the historic center of Venice through the Giudecca canal, a move triggered by a ship collision and concerns over pollution and erosion.

Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether this daily charge will discourage tourists. Some, like Karina from Germany, don’t see it as a significant burden, while others like Cal, a student from Ireland, find it relatively steep for a day of sightseeing.

Venice is witnessing a growing exodus of residents due to the overwhelming presence of tourists. The shortage of long-term rental options for residents has become a pressing issue, with landlords preferring to rent to tourists during the summer season. Citizen associations, Ocio and Venissa, have conducted studies revealing that the number of beds available for tourists now exceeds those for residents. Many government buildings have been converted into hotels, a transformation that threatens the city’s identity as it shifts towards a tourist-centric model.

Maria Fiano, who heads Ocio, advocates for restrictions on tourist accommodations as a solution to the issue and expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of the daily fee proposed by the town hall, viewing it as a superficial measure.

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Deadly Fire Engulfs Ship Carrying 3,000 Cars off Dutch Coast: Ameland Rescue Underway

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Cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 cars catches fire off Dutch island of Ameland, resulting in one fatality and 22 injuries.

A major salvage operation is underway in a designated World Heritage site in the North Sea. The fire was possibly triggered by one of the 25 electric vehicles on board. The ship’s crew attempted to control the flames but had to evacuate.

The ship, operated by K-Line and owned by a subsidiary of Imabari Shipbuilding, is currently stationary but may be listing. Emergency crews are focused on extinguishing the fire and preventing the vessel from sinking.

Concerns are also raised about the risks of transporting electric vehicles at sea following this incident and a previous one involving a cargo ship carrying luxury cars that caught fire and sank off the Azores last year.

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