Venice's Newly Enacted Tour Group Size Limit is Well Received by Tourists and Locals

Image: Bridge Rialto on Grand canal in Venice.

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:10 PM ET, Fri August 2, 2024

The city of Venice ushered in a new tour group size limit this week and early reports indicate that the measure is earning approval on multiple fronts.

The new regulation, which went into effect yesterday, limits tourist groups to no more than 25 people. It is the latest in a series of efforts from Venice city leaders to address overtourism. The measure also restricts the use of loudspeakers by tour guides. The rules apply to both Venice’s city centre and the outlying islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

A Europe-based media organization that interviewed Venice visitors yesterday reported positive feedback for the change.

“I think it’s right,” said 81-year-old local Edie Rubert, told the publication Euractiv yesterday.

“It would be better to reduce it more. Because you can’t walk along the narrow canalside streets when these groups are there,” she added, saying it was even worse when she needed to use her shopping trolley.

Sebastian Fagarazzi, co-founder of the ‘Venezia Autentica’ (Authentic Venice) Tourist Enterprise, said measures are still needed in the city to address the tourism issues.

“It’s probably a good decision in that regard, but it’s not going to be enough. Tourism in Venice has pushed out 72% of the inhabitants in the past 70 years, so 28% only remain today,” Fagarazzi told Euractiv.

Per the Euractive report, back in 1954, Venice was home to more than 170,000 residents. But as of last year that figure had dwindled to slightly more than 49,000 city residents.

“As a consequence, it’s not enough to just make smaller groups or, for example, ask people to pay a small tourism tax. What must be done is to rethink tourism in order to support the local community,” added Fagarazzi.

Tourists visiting Venice yesterday also offered their approval of the new group size limit.

“Yeah, I think it’s good. I mean, it’s very, very congested in a lot of places,” Mark Kerr, a tourist from Scotland, told the publication. “In particular, yesterday we were at the St. Mark’s Basilica and the queues were massive to get in, so I think there’s a need to manage it, is probably the best way I can describe it.”

Venice leaders have introduced various other efforts over the past months and year to address the city's overtoruism challenges.

The city recently conducted an initial run of a new entry fee system for daily visitors. As part of that system, which ran from April 25 through July 14, visitors were required to pay 5 euros to enter the city. That amounts to about $5.45. The system is expected to be used again in the future and may include increased entry fees.