① Italy’s Cinque Terre Fine Policy
Tourists are facing unexpected penalties while traveling in the picturesque Italian coastal villages of Cinque Terre. Derived from the Italian word “five towns,” Cinque Terre encompasses Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. These cliffside towns, located along the coast, are hotspots for day-trippers seeking panoramic views.
However, locals emphasize that to experience Cinque Terre truly; one should trek the hiking trails connecting the towns. Due to the area’s designation as a national park, the Cinque Terre National Park authority ran campaigns urging tourists to come prepared for hiking. Disregarding this advice could lead to fines ranging from $51 to $2,700.
This policy emerged mainly due to the rising number of tourists injured while hiking in inadequate footwear like flip-flops. The volunteer-based Italian Alpine Club often carries out the rescues. “People might think they’re approaching a coastal path, but the trails above the towns are more like mountain paths,” stated a park representative.
Besides urging visitors to wear appropriate footwear, they also emphasize bringing essentials like water, sunscreen, and emergency food, noting that the seaside’s beauty can deceive tourists into underestimating potential dangers.
② Overtourism in Italy
With a population of just over 4,000, Cinque Terre’s inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and its designation as a national park in 1999 has caused tourist numbers to skyrocket to 3 million annually. Local authorities have even converted the most popular hiking paths into one-way routes to cope.
Elsewhere in Italy, like in the southern resort town of Amalfi, measures like alternate-day driving restrictions for non-resident vehicles have been implemented to alleviate road congestion.
③ Tourist Tax to Prevent Tourists
As tourists worldwide continue to flock to Europe, the continent has been implementing measures to combat overtourism. These measures include imposing fines on tourists and enforcing restrictions on entry to tourist sites.
As tourists continue to pour in, residents are experiencing discomfort; in some cases, local residents even leave their homes. However, some tourists feel that these policies in Europe are too strict.
In addition to measures to combat overtourism, Europe has also introduced tourist tax policies. This policy involves charging tourists a certain amount, which is then used to maintain and improve tourist resources, transportation, and support for locals. In addition to paying the tax when visiting tourist sites, it is also included in accommodation fees and airfare. Many tourists are unaware that the tax is already included in their accommodation fees or airfare.
A tourist tax of 3.02% is added to the hotel accommodation fee per person in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. In Santiago de Compostela, Spain, they plan to collect a tourist tax of 0.5 to 2.5 euros per person based on the type of accommodation from 2025.
Venice, Italy, already includes a tourist tax in accommodation fees. Starting next year, they also plan to charge an entrance fee of 3 to 10 euros for day-trippers. The European Union (EU) has plans to impose a 7-euro visa fee on foreign visitors aged 19 to 69, but it is currently delayed. In Bali, Indonesia, a tourist tax of $10 per person is imposed on foreign tourists.
By. Kim Min-jae (minjaaie33@mememedia.co.kr)
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