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Sirmione on Lake Garda: Chaos caused by mass tourism – is there an entrance fee?
Crowded streets in Sirmione on Lake Garda: Residents demand entrance fees to regulate mass tourism.
Sirmione on Lake Garda: Chaos caused by mass tourism – is there an entrance fee?
Lake Garda, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Italy, is increasingly confronted with massive influxes of tourists, which are increasingly putting a strain on the infrastructure and quality of life of the residents. This is particularly felt in picturesque Sirmione, where local residents are calling for urgent measures to curb tourism pressure. According to reports from derwesten.de There were serious traffic problems when the only access road to the city center was blocked for over two hours. Over the past holiday season, 40,000 additional cars were counted, alarming residents.
The mayor of Sirmione, Luisa Lavelli, and local residents are committed to establishing clear rules for tourism. In particular, the idea of an entry fee for day visitors is being discussed, similar to Venice, where a fee of up to 10 euros per person has been charged since Easter 2024. On May 1st, Sirmione saw an estimated 75,000 tourists visiting a population of just 8,000. This led to chaotic conditions in the historic center as rescue workers struggled to move freely through the crowded streets.
Proposals for regulating tourism
Together with the security officer Massimo Padovan, the introduction of a reservation system for day tourists is being considered. Padovan is optimistic that Sirmione should remain accessible to tourists in the future, but only with the concerns of local residents taken into account. A revision of the parking system and an increased presence of control staff are also part of the considerations in order to defuse the situation.
The demand for a tourist tax is further supported by the experience in Venice. There, the fee has already helped to direct visitor flows and generate income for the maintenance of the infrastructure. In Venice, day visitors between April and July are required to pay 5 euros in advance or 10 euros if booking at short notice. There are exceptions for certain groups, including locals, overnight guests, children under 14 and students.
The situation in Sirmione reflects a larger trend in which Italian communities are actively developing strategies to combat mass tourism. The need to find the balance between the needs of residents and the interests of tourism is more urgent than ever.