So where CAN we go on holiday? Italian village brings in anti-tourist measures with €275 fines for loitering in selfie hotspots – after Amsterdam and Lanzarote tried to freeze out Britons
- Portofino’s no-waiting zone bans are active daily from morning time until 6pm
A tiny fishing village in Italy has launched new anti-tourist measures with €275 fines for loitering in selfie hotspots in an attempt to put an end to ‘anarchic chaos’.
The mayor of Portofino has introduced a no-loitering rule in two ‘red zones’ where visitors often take photographs and tourism groups crowd together, The Times reported.
The no-waiting zones were put into effect amid the Easter break tourism boom that saw about 1.7 million holidaymakers visiting Italian centres, a 12 per cent increase from last year.
The ban is the latest in a string of rulings seemingly aimed at freezing out tourists – and in particular, Britons.
Destinations across Europe have measures in place to discourage tourists, including Portofino, Italy which recently launched two ‘red zones’ where police can €275 fines to anyone who is loitering in selfie hotspots
Portofino’s newly instated no-waiting zone bans are active daily from morning time until 6pm. The bans will remain in effect through October 15.
Mayor Matteo Viacava insists the ban is not aimed at making the city ‘more exclusive’ but instead to ‘allow everyone to enjoy our beauty’ and ‘avoid dangerous situations caused by overcrowding.’
He said the crowds of loitering tourists prevent access for emergency services which could be very dangerous.
The tiny fishing village, which has a population of 369, is known for its seafood, luxurious boutiques and pastel-coloured homes.
The village has reportedly been popular with celebrities, but Mr Viacava claims there will be favouritism towards stars when issuing loitering fines.
‘Portofino isn’t anyone’s property, it belongs to everyone,’ he said. ‘Everyone must respect it.’
Several European cities have taken measures to discourage tourism and the alleged negative behaviours associated with it.
Portofino’s newly instated no-waiting zone bans are active daily from morning time until 6pm. The bans will remain in effect through October 15. Pictured: Stock image of Portofino town and port with boats
Tourist chiefs in Amsterdam warned British men to ‘stay away’ as part of a major new operation to clean up the city and rid it of rowdy and hedonistic behaviour.
The new campaign features a staged video showing a young man being arrested after he was found stumbling along the city’s streets.
The video features large red and white writing saying: ‘Coming to Amsterdam for a messy night and getting trashed = €140 fine and a criminal record.’
It then shows the police officers taking the tourist to a prison cell and making him kneel down in front of a bed in a bizarre scene.
The footage is overlaid with red writing which reads: ‘So coming to Amsterdam for a messy night? Stay away.’
Despite the campaign deliberately targeting young men from the UK, Dutch sex workers have come out in support of male British tourists.
Hundreds held a protest against the campaign in support of Brits – saying that they are not associated with bad behaviour any more than any other nationality – and attacking the campaign as an attempt to gentrify the heart of the Dutch capital.
Similarly, Lanzarote President Dolores Corujo last month claimed the island was being saturated by British tourists and instead wanted to accommodate more ‘higher quality’ travellers from mainland Europe.
She claimed the island would pursue ‘a diversification strategy to reduce dependence on the British market.’
But her remarks were met with backlash, including from the Tourist Federation of Lanzarote (FTL) which reiterated the island has ‘very strong ties’ with British tourists and will continue to be ‘absolutely hospitable’ towards them.
The tourism body called on Ms Corujo to ‘clarify the situation’ and meet with representatives from the UK market to reiterate that ‘our Island is open to the reception of visitors from any part of the world.’
Dutch tourist chiefs last month launched a controversial advert discouraging nuisance behaviour from boozy stag parties of young men from the UK
Similarly, Lanzarote’s President said she wants to diversify the island’s tourist economy and reduce reliance on British visitors
The mayor of Siurana, a village in Catalonia, Spain, last year declined for the city the be featured in annual list of the country’s prettiest villages. Siurana’s two car parks also have a total capacity of 200.
Like Mr Viacava said of Portofino, Mayor Salvador Salvadó declared ‘overcrowding’ a problem in Siurana and told The Times he wanted ‘the town not to become crowded and for the people who arrive in Siurana to leave happy.’
Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, this year announced a €3 to €10 entrance fee for all day visitors ages six and older.
Alhambra in Granada is also now requiring entrance fees – ranging from £3, £7 or £9 – and requires reservations for visitors.
The Spanish island of Mallorca has moved to limit hotel beds to 430,000 in attempt to have ‘tourism of greater value and less volume’.
The national parks across the region have also placed restrictions on visitors.
The Parc National des Calanques in Calanque de Sugiton, France now requires a booking to enter.
Snowdonia National Park in Wales and the Giant’s Causeway, on the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland, are also limiting the number of people who can enter the parks.
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