Top holiday spot to fine tourists £250 for lingering in Instagram hotspots
A HOLIDAY hotspot will start fining tourists for lingering too long in some of its Instagrammable locations.
Almost everyone shares their holiday snaps online when going abroad, and getting the perfect picture is something of an art.
However, those who spend too long trying to get the right photo in Portofino, Italy could end up having to pay a fine of almost £250.
The mayor of the Italian village has announced he will introduce no-waiting zones for pedestrians, in a bid to stop overcrowding.
The small fishing village is home to picturesque cobbled streets and saw a rise in tourism over the Easter holidays, as it grows in popularity among both Italians and tourists from overseas.
The Times report that two “red zones” have been introduced to
avoid crowding in restricted areas, where visitors are known to pause for selfies.
Snap happy visitors are regularly caught up among organised tour groups and passengers waiting to return to their cruise ships, causing throngs of people in the narrow streets.
Matteo Viacava, the mayor, said that the rules will put an end to “anarchic chaos” that he fears could become dangerous.
The ban was introduced over the Easter break when a 12 per cent rise in tourists saw 1.7million tourists visiting holiday hotspots in Italy.
The rules will remain in place until October 15 and is in force from the
morning until 6pm.
Anyone caught lingering could be forced to fork out up to €275 (£242).
Mayor Viacava said that the rules would actually make it easier for more people to visit the village in the long run.
He told The Times: “The objective is not to make the place more exclusive but to allow everyone to enjoy our beauty.
“We want to avoid dangerous situations caused by overcrowding.”
Other European holiday destinations are also bringing in their own rules to tackle overcrowding.
Amsterdam aims to deal with ‘over-tourism’ by limiting the number of river cruises and Airbnb rental properties.
Instead, a number of hotels will be repurposed into residential and office buildings.
The city’s deputy mayor, Sofyan Mbarki, said the restrictions mean that tourism won’t impact residents’ quality of life.
He tweeted: “Tourism is part of our city, but it should not be at the expense of quality of life. That is why there’s a long-term vision on tourism and a package of measures.”
Crowds aren’t the only issue with tourists either, with some places taking issue with common behaviours from visitors.
Sorrento in Italy brought in new laws last summer that mean anyone caught walking around topless could be fined as much as €500 (£417).
The mayor said: “That behaviour is seen by the majority of people as contrary to decorum and to the decency that characterises civilised cohabitation.
“The continuation of this situation, as well as causing discomfort and unease in the resident population and among visitors, could lead to a negative judgment on the quality of life in our town, with consequences for its image and for tourism.”
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