Venice bans loudspeakers, limits tour groups to ‘protect city’

 The city of Venice in northeastern Italy has announced plans to control mass tourism. 

A statement issued on Saturday through the city’s website said the size of tourist groups would be limited to 25.

The city also said  stopping at narrow streets, bridges or places of passage has  been banned.

Museums in the popular lagoon city already limit groups to 25 people.

“The use of speakers that may cause confusion and disturbance will also be prohibited,” the statement reads.

According to the city’s officials, the decisions were made with particular attention to the needs of protection of residents and the promotion of pedestrian mobility.

The statement added that “it is a measure that is part of a broader framework of interventions aimed at improving and better management of tourism in Venice, thus guaranteeing a greater balance between the needs of those who live in the city, or as a resident or as a worker, and those who come to visit the city”.

“This measure is the result of a series of steps and comparisons with categories and operators in the sector,” the statement further said.

Over-tourism is a widely recognised urgent issue for Venice, one of the most densely populated cities in Europe.

Venice has been taking measures to reduce the pressure of mass tourism.

Two months ago, the authorities introduced a trial visitors fee of €5 for day trippers to the city.

The modifications also came after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended in July that Venice be added to its heritage danger list.