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New tourist limits get warm welcome in Venice

Venetians and visitors alike invited new guidelines presented on Thursday to restrict the size of traveler groups in the current effort to reduce overcrowding.

Traveler parties will be capped at 25 individuals and guides will be barred from utilizing speakers to help the flow of pedestrians and make it more peaceful for citizens.

I think it's right, stated 81-year-old local Edie Rubert.

It would be better to decrease 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 required to. use her shopping trolley.

In April, Venice became the first city on the planet to. present a payment system for visitors in an experiment intended. at discouraging daytrippers from showing up during peak durations.

Sebastian Fagarazzi, co-founder of the 'Venezia Autentica'. ( Authentic Venice) Traveler Business, said more action was. required.

It's most likely a great decision because regard, but it's not. going to be enough. Tourism in Venice has actually pushed out 72% of the. inhabitants in the past 70 years, so 28% only remain today, he. said.

Venice's historical centre had more than 170,000 citizens in. 1954, according to city authorities. In 2015, they were down. to simply over 49,000.

As a repercussion, it's insufficient to simply make smaller sized. groups or, for example, ask people to pay a small tourism tax. What must be done is to rethink tourist in order to support the. local neighborhood, included Fagarazzi, whose organisation intends to. assistance more sustainable tourism.

The limitations, which cover the city centre and also the. islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, likewise got a thumbs-up. from some travelers themselves.

Yeah, I believe it's excellent. I imply, it's very, really busy. in a great deal of locations, said Mark Kerr, going to from Scotland.

In specific, the other day we were at the St. Mark's Basilica. and the lines were huge to get in, so I think there's a requirement. to handle it, is probably the very best method I can describe it..

(source: Reuters)