The mega traffic jam on Lake Garda, the bivouacs in the historic center of Rome and Florence, the dives from the bridges of Venice, the selfies with gatherings in Portofino and along the panoramic road of the Cinque Terre: the news tells us the other face of tourism, the one that pushes more and more travelers to look for less traveled places and mayors to find quick solutions. To dissuade excessive concentrations of tourists in the same place, often unpopular measures are taken: regulated access, closed numbers, controls, fines and prohibitions. There is also a risk of exceeding with incorrect information, as happened to the mayor of Portofino who had to deny the news of selfie bans arrived from the British tabloids: "Here no one has banned selfies - commented Matteo Viacava - we have signed an ordinance that prohibits, for security reasons, gatherings in two-three specific areas. It's an ordinance for tour operators." Yet controls and rules are a necessity so as not to distort fragile ecosystems or change the face of cities, especially after the dizzying numbers of tourists in our territory in these last bridges of spring.
Many mayors have taken drastic measures: high fines for those who walk the paths above the Cinque Terre in flip-flops, for those who bivouac in Piazza di Spagna in Rome, for those who consume a snack outdoors in the heart of Venice or in 4 central streets of Florence. There is even a fine for building sand castles on the beach of Eraclea, in Veneto. Many places want a limited or limited number, such as the province of Bolzano which has just introduced a maximum limit of overnight stays. From some summers in Val Pusteria Lake Braies is accessible to a limited number of cars and has organized a shuttle service to reach it. The small islands, from Procida to Lampedusa, prohibit the landing of means of transport to non-residents, while Sergio Ortelli, mayor of the island of Giglio, has found a way to contain the flows: "In August only those who stay more than 4 days can bring the car". The limited number pleases some mayors but not the Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè: "I do not believe in the limited number for access to historic centers but we need to raise prices for some cultural heritage, especially museums". Nor does the president of the Liguria region, Giovanni Toti, like it, asking to find other solutions: guided routes, staggering schedules on the paths and, rather, a toll. Charging the entrance is the desire of the mayors of the most famous places: yesterday Portofino and some beaches of Sardinia, today Taormina and Venice, frightened by the explosion of tourist flows.
The danger, according to experts, is to go from one excess to another: transforming tourist places into amusement parks to make money and scare travelers, especially foreign ones, with too many prohibitions. If overtourism is difficult for locals to manage, it is also exhausting for tourists, forced to pay too high prices for a coffee or a parking lot or to queue just to look out from a panoramic terrace. "It is no longer possible to postpone the debate on how to manage tourist flows - commented Fabrizia Pecunia, mayor of Riomaggiore - we need proposals for laws, parliamentary questions and new measures". "The Italian tourism industry still has a lot to do - explains Magda Antonioli, director of the Master in Tourism Economics at Bocconi University - the key words of the near future will be: growing sustainability, the strengthening of accessibility, technological innovation and the development of the transport network and services, in addition to seasonal deconcentration". It is precisely the seasonal adjustment objective to which tour operators, institutions and the world of cruises are working: "We have prepared special formulas to encourage off-season holidays - explains Leonardo Massa, director of MSC Cruises - and the market is following us".
Another important aspect is the problem of apartments in the city intended for tourists: to make room for holiday homes, the historic centers are often abandoned by residents, while students and families struggle to find rental accommodation. And this also happens in tourist resorts, such as Lake Garda where Federalberghi complains that these non-hotel activities "escape the regulations in force on tourism", referring above all to tourist taxes; Not to mention the fact that an accommodation facility has regulatory obligations on plant engineering and safety while those who rent a house to tourists do not incur similar expenses. Of the same opinion is the Councilor for Tourism of Roma Capitale, Alessandro Onorato, who comments: "It is not possible that with a click today anyone can open an accommodation facility; We need to give municipalities the possibility to regulate the phenomenon". The mayors of Bologna, Bergamo, Florence, Lodi, Milan, Naples, Padua, Parma, Rome, Turin and Verona have decided to make a common front to the problem of depopulation of urban centers to the benefit of tourism income, questioning Minister Daniela Santanchè, who commented: "We need a tightening on short-term rentals. We need rules and we are waiting for what Europe will elaborate, taking into account some peculiarities such as small villages where there are no hotels and short rent in a house is the only solution".
To avoid unnecessary fines and waiting for the next holidays here are some rules for responsible and aware travelers.
Clothing. Avoid beachwear in the city and flashy clothing, especially in places of worship.
Environment. It is important to observe behaviors that limit your impact on the territory: do not throw papers on the ground, do not waste water or food and respect the local ecosystem.
Animals. There are fines for those who feed pigeons in tourist squares or animals in natural environments.
Food. Limit the consumption of snacks, sandwiches or ice cream on crowded streets.
Nature. In protected areas it is good to follow the paths, not to disturb plants, animals and the environment in which they live.
Sleeping bag. It is used in campsites or in suitable places, never in the city.
Holidays. It is good to book in time and, if possible, avoid places that are already too crowded. (ANSA).