Every year, holidaymakers like the oil Sardinians crowd the Italian beaches. Visitor limits and entrance fees are intended to keep the crowds of visitors in check in the future.
After three years of pandemic, 2023 could be a record year for travel, as the tourism industry hopes. While the travel sector is rejoicing over the high number of bookings, popular holiday destinations are bracing themselves for the onslaught. In Italy in particular, many regions are eager to impose bans and restrictions. In the tranquil village of Portofino on the Italian Riviera, there is now even the threat of a fine for stopping in busy streets during the summer months. And Venice has also been planning an entrance fee for day tourists for years in order to limit the crowds of visitors.
Up to six euros entrance fee for beaches: stricter rules for tourists in Sardinia
In Sardinia, the rules for holidaymakers are also to be tightened once again, as reported by CNN, among others. The eastern municipality of Baunei has therefore limited the number of visitors to Cala dei Gabbiani and Cala Biriala to 300 people per day. If you want to visit Cala Goloritzè, which can only be reached by boat or on foot, you will even be confronted with a visitor limit of 250 people – on top of that, an entrance fee of six euros must be paid. The largest beach at Cala Mariolu can still be visited by 700 bathers per day. "We can no longer afford to have thousands of sun worshippers huddled together in one spot every day, as in the past. This is untenable," said Mayor Stefano Monni about the measures.
+Only 750 bathers are allowed per day in Cala Mariolu. (Symbolic image)
© agefotostock/Imago
But there is one more thing to keep in mind: beachgoers must reserve their place 72 hours in advance via the "Cuore di Sardegna" app. At Cala Goloritzè, the fee can be paid either online or in cash at the entrance. The local authorities want to use the proceeds for a parking lot, a surveillance system and the maintenance of paths and toilets.
What is freshly introduced in the municipality of Baunei has already been part of the agenda at the Spaggia della Pelosa in northern Sardinia since 2021. In order to prevent the sand from being removed by the visitors' towels, only mats may be used here. In the event of a violation, a fine of 100 euros or more may be imposed. In the high season between June and September, a maximum of 1,500 bathers who have booked online in advance are also allowed to visit the beach. There is an entrance fee of 3.50 euros for every guest over the age of twelve.
Beaches with visitor limit also in Sicily
Off the southwest coast of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa is the island of Isola dei Conigli. The beach there is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, which attracts crowds of visitors every year. According to the CNN report, this is now also to come to an end: For a fee of two euros, 350 visitors are allowed to use the beach in the morning and in the afternoon. In this way, the loggerhead turtles, which lay their eggs here, are to be protected. Before the limit was introduced, more than 1,500 tourists a day flocked to the beach.
Category list image: © agefotostock/Imago