The tourist tax in Venice didn't deter enough travelers. Now, the hot spot is limiting tour groups.

Thu, 08/01/2024 - 15:04

Two images. Left: A view of Venice from a gondola with other gondolas on the water in front of it. Right: Crowds of people walk through a narrow alleyway between old brick buildings — Overtourism in Venice is getting so bad that city officials are putting a cap on tourist groups.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Venice's tax pilot program to combat overtourism didn't deter enough travelers.
The tax raised $2.2 million over two months as tourists continued to pour in.
Venice recently set a 25-person cap on tourist groups and banned loudspeakers for tours.

Tourists in Venice stuff themselves through narrow bridges in mobs. They scramble through stopped groups of people posing for selfies in front of canals. They sacrifice having even an inch of personal space just to be in public.