Fees, bans and limits – How mass tourism is transforming Italy

Italy is grappling with unprecedented levels of mass tourism, leading to an affordable housing shortage, crowded cities, and overwhelmed attractions in once-peaceful villages.

In Rome, Venice, Florence, and countless other destinations, streets are jammed, and attractions are overcrowded.

For those seeking an authentic experience of Italy, the options are to rise before dawn or revisit the past through old photo albums.

Official figures show that Italy welcomed a record-breaking amount of tourists in 2023, with around 134 million arrivals and over 451 million overnight stays in hotels and other accommodations.

It’s not just long-time residents feeling the strain; tourists are affected as well. To preserve the authenticity of city centres and attractions, several Italian destinations are implementing access restrictions, fees, and bans.

Rome considering Trevi Fountain entrance fee

The Trevi Fountain, a landmark in Rome’s historic centre, is a popular spot for selfies and coin tosses. However, its constant overcrowding has led the city council, along with residents and business owners, to reconsider the visitor experience.

They are exploring options such as limiting access or introducing an entry fee to reduce chaos. In the meantime, visitors can already get a glimpse of changes under way.

The fountain is being restored in 2025, and access has been restricted with a walkway around the basin, allowing only a limited number of visitors at a time to better manage the crowds.

Archaeological Park of Pompeii limits visitors

This summer, some 4 million people visited the sunken city of Pompeii, overwhelming the archaeological park.

To manage the crowds, a daily visitor limit of 20,000 will be enforced, along with personalized tickets.

The goal is to ease the strain on the site, preserving both visitor safety and the centuries-old heritage of the World Heritage-listed city, which was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Venice plans to raise entrance fees

Venice is considered a prime example of mass tourism, attracting millions of visitors each year while creating significant challenges.

With fewer than 50,000 residents in the city centre, yet over 50,000 guest beds, the influx of more than 15 million tourists annually has sparked criticism from locals, who feel displaced by what they call the “Venice Theme Park.”

To curb the impact, Venice introduced the world’s first entrance fee for short-term visitors, starting at €5, though this has proven ineffective. By 2025, the fee is set to rise to €10 for access to the city centre, with residents exempt.

Florence mulling ban on short-term rentals

Short-term holiday rentals are abundant in Florence, with some estimates suggesting that 30% of city centre apartments are listed on Airbnb.

As a result, rents have surged by 42% since 2016, making it increasingly difficult for locals to afford housing and prompting many to move away.

While tourists pay significantly higher rates for short stays, the new social-democratic mayor plans to tackle the issue by banning the registration of new Airbnb rentals to preserve affordable housing for residents.

‘LoveTrail’ in Cinque Terre limited to 400 visitors

The “Via dell’Amore” (Love Path) in Cinque Terre, once a hotspot for quick selfies, saw 3.5 million visitors annually before a 2012 landslide.

After over a decade of restoration, the trail reopened in August with new restrictions. Now, only 400 people per hour can access the path, with 100 visitors allowed every 15 minutes.

A ticket is required before 7 pm, with a seasonal surcharge, all aimed at alleviating the overcrowding in this small area, which is home to just 3,500 residents.