Sirmione on Lake Garda: Tourist rush demands drastic measures!

Sirmione on Lake Garda: Tourist rush demands drastic measures!

Sirmione on Lake Garda is a well -known tourist destination that has experienced a massive rush of visitors in recent years due to its idyllic character and historical sites. The problems associated with mass tourism were obvious, especially for the long May weekend. The only access road to the historic old town was blocked for over two hours, which affected not only the locals, but also emergency vehicles. This has led to an alarming situation that now makes measures to regulate the tourist flows necessary. The city administration is therefore required to ensure the security and standard of living of the citizens, while at the same time maintaining the attractiveness for tourists. In this background, the mayor of Sirmione, Luisa Lavelli, emphasizes that the access to the city should remain guaranteed, but must be regulated in order to counteract the excessive stress.

After the rush of visitors on May 1st, it became clear that the city administration sees a need for action. Considerations for the introduction of entrance fees for day visitors, similar to Venice, are on the agenda. In the last three public holidays, 40,000 more vehicles have been registered than in the previous year, which further burdened and led to security concerns.

measures to regulate tourism

In order to cope with the massive rush, a reservation system for top days is specifically discussed. Safety officer Massimo Padovan has brought this idea to ensure that emergency routes remain free and tourist flows can be better controlled. These measures are a reaction to the increasing difficulties that arise from mass tourism. Local hoteliers also call for quick measures to limit the number of visitors to secure the quality of life in Sirmione.

• One of the suggestions is a mandatory reservation system for the old town access on top days.
• entrance tickets for day guests are also up for debate.
• The city also plans to introduce a tourist tax of 2.70 euros per person and night, which is due to enter into force in 2025.

Sirmione has around 8,000 inhabitants, but receives 1.36 million overnight stays annually. This illustrates the imbalance between the constantly growing number of tourists and the limited capacity of the city. Another sign of growing popularity among German tourists is that 86 percent of them could imagine living in Sirmione permanently.

The city has already issued a driving ban for cars and bicycles in the city center in 2018, with exceptions to residents, hotel guests and people with a job in the center. These measures aim to preserve the historical character of the city and at the same time increase security. Sirmione is now at a critical point that is about finding the balance between hospitality and sustainability to preserve the beauty of this pearl on Lake Garda.

More information about the developments in Sirmione can be found at Merkur and Kosmo .