Italy Imposes Powerful New Tourist Crackdown With Summer Fines For Barefoot Walking And Public Drinking To Preserve Portofino’s Iconic Riviera Charm And Combat Overtourism Pressures

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Italy has ramped up its efforts to shield Portofino’s internationally renowned coastline from overtourism pinch a group of stringent caller summertime regulations to protect against nan ills of wide tourism. As nan precocious play stretches nan town’s visitant numbers, these seasonal fines target acts specified arsenic stepping barefoot, drinking intoxicant successful nan thoroughfare aliases hosting picnics extracurricular designated zones. They are meant to protect nan artistic appeal, taste integrity, and nationalist bid of this legendary Riviera haunt nether battle from nan hordes of visitors that large wind done each summer. In regulating according to these rules, Italy is trying to equilibrium nan invited mat and due conservation of nan ambiance of Portofino for nan early generations.

Italian Riviera basking spot brings successful SEASONAL FINES for group going BAREFOOT connected nan street, drinking successful nationalist aliases having PICNICS arsenic it struggles pinch spiralling number of tourists

The scenic Italian Riviera municipality of Portofino has adopted yet different furniture of caller seasonal regulations to fend disconnected nan city’s tourer masses and support nan spectacular earthy beauty during nan tallness of nan summertime season. The caller regulations, successful spot betwixt July 15 and September 30, are aimed astatine curbing communal acts of visitors, specified arsenic stepping without shoes, wearing swimwear successful public, drinking intoxicant extracurricular designated sites and spontaneous picnics.

The steps are intended to protect societal bid and guarantee nan esthetic and taste decorum of nan historical municipality astatine nan tallness of nan tourer season, officials said. Famous for its multi-coloured cliffside houses, millionaire yachts and cobbled streets, Portofino is usually besieged by crowds during nan summertime months, pinch nan organization soaring to almost 100,000 – galore of them British tourists.

According to nan caller municipal decree, visitors will beryllium fined for disruptive and disrespectful behavior. No much going barefoot, topless aliases wearing swimsuits distant from nan beach. All intoxicant depletion is restricted to licensed constitution (bars, restaurants, aliases charismatic nationalist area, wherever applicable). Public picnics — erstwhile a celebrated activity for travelers to return successful nan town’s picturesque views — besides are out.

Those breaking nan rules could beryllium handed on-the-spot fines of up to €500 (about £433), though will beryllium deed pinch astatine slightest €25 (about £22).

Crackdowns connected Tourist Behavior, Over nan Years

This isn’t nan first clip Portofino has had to return steps to power its still-increasing tourism numbers. In 2023, nan municipality generated world headlines erstwhile it prohibited visitors from stopping astatine immoderate picturesque vantage points. Although nan charismatic logic fixed was information concerns related to pedestrian traffic, galore suspected it was to discourage rampant selfie-taking and overcrowding.

The effort resulted successful nan installation of “no-waiting zones,” wherever visitors are not allowed to pause, peculiarly successful locations deemed excessively crowded aliases prone to bottlenecks. Anyone who was caught flouting these contiguous bans faced penalties section to €275 (£242), truthful location was immoderate seriousness down what would different beryllium excusable photography pit-stops.

The town’s administrators person stressed that specified measures are not astir deterring visitors but astir sustaining nan value of life for its inhabitants and seeing that Portofino’s historical and earthy riches do not go degraded.

Sustainable Tourism and Infrastructure Management

Portofino’s crackdown against unruly behaviour by visitors is portion of a broader scheme crossed Italy to beforehand sustainable tourism. Local officials astir nan state are emotion progressively besieged by nan broadside effects of complete tourism, peculiarly successful vulnerable formation communities and historical sites.

For further easing of request of section infrastructure and postulation limitation: A typical licence sheet number rotation strategy was tested during past summertime for 35 km costal roadworthy betwixt Vietri sul Mare and Positano connected nan Amalfi Coast. This norm dictated that plates ending successful an overseas aliases moreover number could only beryllium connected nan roadworthy connected different alternating days only successful nan highest months.

While nan Amalfi Coast connection did not person nonstop base connected Portofino, nan implementation of these types of initiatives whitethorn person sparked different towns to deliberation of innovative ways to hit overtourism.

Italy has imposed reliable fines this play astatine Portofino to tackle overcrowding and protect nan picturesque municipality from nan hordes of visitors who extremity to gawk astatine its beautiful views and aged architecture. The caller rules are aimed astatine disruptive behaviors including barefoot walking, nationalist drinking and unauthorized picnics.

A Delicate Balance of Hosting and Museumification

Portofino has agelong been a tie for able travelers, celebs and influencers successful hunt of nan cleanable Mediterranean getaway. But pinch its fame connected nan emergence worldwide, nan municipality is grappling pinch a delicate balance: really to clasp visitors without losing its small-town soul, aliases overburdening its infrastructure.

Local officials opportunity nan impermanent rules are basal to support bid amid a frenzied summertime crush. They person religion that responsible tourism (backed by sensible regulation) will thief support Portofino a cherished vacation spot for generations to come.

The effort pinch codes of conduct, respect and nan preservation of section contented is for Portofino to go a spot wherever instantaneous remuneration does not refute heritage.

With nan summertime months successful afloat swing, UK staycationers and holidaymakers from overseas are being urged to publication up connected nan caller measures earlier mounting off. Though nan fines tin beryllium significant, they besides speak to nan town’s earnest efforts to woody responsibly and respectfully pinch its soaring popularity.