This historic Italian city has announced bold new measures to tackle overtourism

Florence is taking steps to combat overtourism with a new 10-point plan aimed at reducing the city's tourist influx, which has become a source of frustration for residents. Key measures include banning key boxes used by short-term rental hosts and...

By ET Online | Nov 14, 2024, 04.16 PM IST

The historic city of Florence is implementing measures to reduce overtourism, including a ban on key boxes used by short-term rental hosts and tour guide loudspeakers, in response to concerns that the influx of visitors has become unsustainable, as per a CNN report.

With stunning Renaissance art and architecture, Florence, in Tuscany, has long been popular with travellers. But, like many other places in Italy and elsewhere, it has seen a drastic increase in tourists in recent years, leading to a backlash from residents priced out of their homes.

As Florence prepares to host tourism ministers from the G7 group of the world's leading economies, city officials have approved a 10-point plan to address overtourism, introduced by Mayor Sarah Funaro.

One key focus is the restriction of key boxes—combination lockboxes used by short-term rental hosts for guest check-ins—in the UNESCO-listed city center, home to works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Giotto, and Brunelleschi. These key boxes have become targets of vandalism, with frustrated locals marking them with red Xs.

The plan also includes limits on "atypical vehicles," such as golf carts, which are increasingly used by tour guides to transport visitors in restricted areas. Additionally, the use of amplifiers and loudspeakers by tour guides will be prohibited.

The measures are meant to make the Tuscan capital a “living and unique city” for both visitors and residents, a statement from the city’s council says.

Florence is the latest of several destinations to implement restrictions on mass tourism. Last week, the archaeological site of Pompeii announced it would be capping daily visitors at 20,000 and requiring personalized tickets.

Venice also announced it would be again charging an entrance fee in 2025 during busy tourism peaks, and in Rome, the Trevi Fountain will be restricting visitor access to the fountain after renovation work is complete in December, the mayor of Rome told CNN.

These popular destinations are fed up of tourists, and are taking steps to keep them in check

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In recent years, over-tourism has become a growing concern for many popular travel destinations worldwide. Cities and regions traditionally known for attracting millions of visitors each year are now taking proactive measures to curb the negative impacts of overwhelming tourism.

Here's a look at some destinations that are fed up with excessive tourists and the steps they are taking to manage the influx.