Popular European holiday spot to limit the number of tourists that can visit
AN ITALIAN holiday spot is reducing the number of tourists it’s going to allow in every year as part of new rules being introduced.
The effect of tourism returning after the pandemic has led to several places considering how many people should be allowed to visit each year.
Already, places like Ibiza, Majorca and Cornwall have spoken about potentially putting a cap in place to minimise the impact of tourists.
Now, environmental concerns, including water shortages, are being taken into account in South Tyrol in the Italian Alps.
It is a very popular area among snow-sport enthusiasts, with Val Gardena one of the most frequently visited ski resorts in the country, in the region.
The German-speaking Province, also known as Bolzano, has now decided to put a cap on the number of beds and overnight stays that they will make available to external visitors every year.
According to TheMayor.Eu, the province will not allow more than 34million overnight stays each year, to prevent overtourism.
That is the amount of overnight stays that were recorded during 2019, the year before Covid restrictions were put in place.
By the end of June, hotels, B&Bs and campsites have to let the municipalities know how many beds they have available for tourists.
The problems aren’t just to do with the environmental impact on the mountain resort, either.
Crowded streets and even reduced availability on housing for locals has become an issue because of the numbers of tourists trying to visit.
Data released by the province showed that from 2016 to 2020 the amount of property in the region listed on Airbnb almost quadrupled, going from 1,100 to just under 4,000.
South Tyrol’s Tourism Councilor Arnold Schuler told Il Post: “In addition to crowding in the streets, the increase in accommodation offered on platforms such as Airbnb has become a problem, especially in the larger municipalities because it is difficult for the inhabitants to find houses to rent or buy.”
Elsewhere in Europe, the mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau has already introduced a number of restrictions to prevent more tourists visiting.
This includes a ban on new hotels in the city centre, restrictions on the number of hotel beds, and curbing plans to expand the airport.
She now wants to reduce the number of cruise ships visiting Barcelona.
She told the Times: “The great challenge is tourism. Barcelona is a very densely populated city, hemmed in between the mountains and the sea, with restricted space.
“We can’t take infinite numbers of tourists. There has to be a sense of limits and order.”
Amsterdam is also hoping to have fewer people visiting from now on, with its “stay away” campaign hoping to change the image of the city.
From mid-May, visitors will no longer be permitted to smoke marijuana in the streets – with relaxed weed laws a big draw for tourists to the city.
Restrictions on alcohol sales are also planned, while curfews will shut down bars and parts of the red light district that currently have 24 hour licences.
Amsterdam isn’t the only place bringing in rules to ban stag and hen dos – with this popular Spanish resort hoping to do the same.
And these strict rules could prevent holidaymakers from doing other things on holiday in Spain.