Sirmione on Lake Garda: chaos through mass tourism - does the entry fee come?

Sirmione on Lake Garda: chaos through mass tourism - does the entry fee come?

Sirmione, Italien - The Lake Garda, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Italy, is becoming increasingly confronted with massive tourist flows that are increasingly strain on the infrastructure and quality of life of the residents. This is particularly noticeable in the picturesque Sirmione, where the local residents urgently demand measures to stop tourism pressure. According to reports from Derwesten.de there was serious traffic problems, as the only access road to the city center was blocked over two hours. In the past holidays, 40,000 additional cars have been counted, which alerted the residents.

The Mayor of Sirmione, Luisa Lavelli, and the residents are committed to ensuring that clear rules for tourism are established. In particular, the idea of ​​an admission fee for day visitors is discussed, similar to Venice, where a fee of up to 10 euros per person has been charged since Easter 2024. In Sirmione you experienced an estimated 75,000 tourists on May 1st, which met for a population of only 8,000. This led to chaotic conditions in the historic center when rescue workers had difficulty moving through the crowded streets.

suggestions for regulating tourism

Together with the security officer Massimo Padovan, the introduction of a reservation system for day tourists is considered. Padovan is optimistic about the fact that Sirmione should continue to remain accessible to tourists in the future, but only taking into account the interests of the residents. A revision of the parking system and an increased presence of control staff are also part of the considerations to defuse the situation.

The demand for a tourist fee is also supported by the experience in Venice. There, the fee has already contributed to steering visitor flows and generating income for the preservation of the infrastructure. In Venice, day visitors between April and July are obliged to pay 5 euros in advance or 10 euros for short -term booking. There are exceptions for certain groups, including for locals, overnight guests, children under 14 years and students.

The situation in Sirmione reflects a larger trend in which Italian communities actively develop strategies against mass tourism. The need to find the balance between the needs of the residents and the interests of tourism is more urgent than ever.