Following the footsteps of Venice, another Italian town may soon implement measures to combat overtourism, symbolically creating barriers, as reported by The Sunday Times.
The picturesque city of Como, situated along the renowned Lake Como, is considering implementing a tourist levy for daily visitors. The specific fee has not been finalized yet.
The timing for when the new measure would go into effect isn't clear either, but Como Mayor Alessandro Rapinese said representatives are already trying to draft up more guidelines.
"We are already discussing the idea [of a tourist tax]," Rapinese said, as reported by The Times.
"Revolutions begin with concrete measures and we are ready for this long journey."
The initiative comes as overtourism is on the rise in some of Italy's most popular locations. Lake Como attracts more than one million tourists per year, making it one of the most visited destinations in Italy, and while it surely benefits the economy, it creates a problem for local residents.
Lake Como, with its annual influx of over one million tourists, ranks among Italy's most frequented destinations. The measure is introduced in response to the escalating worry of overtourism in various sought-after destinations across Italy. While undoubtedly boosting the economy, this surge in tourism poses challenges for residents of the area.
Recently, Venice too announced a tourist fee of Rs 450 which will come into effect from April 25. This fee will be in place for 29 days, mostly coinciding with national holidays and weekends until mid-July.
All individuals visiting Venice during these designated periods will need to register their presence through an online form. This step will assist officials in estimating visitor numbers and devising strategies to manage them effectively.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/after-venice-this-popular-italian-destination-plans-to-charge-a-tourist-fee/articleshow/109476179.cms
