Now street solicitors, restaurant hostesses, representatives of travel agencies and sellers are prohibited from actively “intercepting” tourists on the streets and in popular recreation areas, The Independent writes. Fines from 25 to 500 euros are provided for violation of the rules.
The decision was a response to the problem of mass tourism: at the height of the season, the population of the island increases dramatically, and on some days the flow of visitors reaches about 50 thousand people. This creates a serious load on the infrastructure and worsens the quality of stay in Capri.
In addition to the ban on intrusive service, additional restrictions are introduced. Since May, the maximum size of tourist groups is reduced to 40 people. Tour guides are also obliged to refuse brightly colored identification signs – flags, umbrellas and other visual markers that increase crowding at popular points.
Capri has long had a strict policy of regulating tourism. As far back as the last century, restrictions were imposed on loud music, overnight stays in public places and picnics in parks, all in the name of preserving the island’s atmosphere.
Local businesses have generally supported the new measures, saying they will help reduce congestion in key tourist areas, including the port and central squares, and make vacations more comfortable.
The authorities emphasize that the aim of the initiative is not to restrict the flow of tourists, but to streamline it and reduce pressure on infrastructure amid the steady growth of the island’s popularity.
