Restaurant goers beware: potential 500 euro fines for dining out
In an effort to enhance the vacation experience for tourists and maintain public order, a popular holiday resort on Lake Garda in Italy has introduced new regulations. The new measures, which impose fines of up to 500 euros on both restaurants and tourists, are part of a broader strategy to control overtourism across Europe.
The holiday resort, known to be a favourite among German tourists, has been causing discomfort for many due to a sensitive issue. To address this, the resort has decided to take action and deter restaurateurs from disregarding the rules.
Under the new ordinance, infractions such as improper behaviour in public spaces, unauthorized street vending, littering, and breaking local codes like food consumption rules outside designated areas will be punishable. Businesses found guilty of aggressive methods to attract customers, such as approaching passersby or distributing flyers, will also face fines.
The town of Torri del Benaco, where the holiday resort is located, has been fining businesses for violations of the new rules. It is advised for tourists to politely but firmly decline and not engage with pushy advertising. If physical harassment occurs, it is important to report such behaviour.
These regulations are not unique to the holiday resort on Lake Garda. Popular tourist destinations across Italy, such as Portofino and Venice, have also implemented similar measures to preserve peace and combat overtourism. In Venice, for example, fines between 25 and 500 euros are enforced for offenses including eating or drinking in unauthorized public areas, sitting on monuments, littering, and inappropriate dress.
Spain, Portugal, Croatia, France, and Greece have also joined the movement, imposing hefty fines for unruly tourist behaviour. In southern Spain's resorts, fines can reach up to €750 for violations like noise and littering.
These regulations reflect a pan-European strategy to balance tourism with residents' quality of life and cultural preservation. With the new regulation, those who disregard the rules at the holiday resort will face fines, aiming to create a more enjoyable and respectful environment for both tourists and locals.
The new regulation is a concern for restaurateurs at the holiday resort, who are dependent on the income from tourists and suffer under price pressure and restrained consumer behaviour. However, with around 67 percent of Germans making savings in other areas of life to afford vacations in 2024, according to an analysis by the Institute for Tourism Research, the hope is that the new measures will encourage more responsible and considerate behaviour from tourists, leading to a quieter and more enjoyable vacation experience for all.
- To promote a more peaceful and respectful ambiance for both tourists and locals, the holiday resort on Lake Garda has implemented new regulations that extend beyond its premises, addressing issues such as improper behaviour in public spaces, unauthorized street vending, littering, breaking food consumption rules, and aggressive marketing tactics, with fines up to 500 euros for violations.
- Understanding the need to address overtourism while maintaining a balance with residents' quality of life and cultural preservation, popular tourist destinations like Portofino, Venice, and various spots in Spain, Portugal, Croatia, France, and Greece have followed suit, imposing fines for uncouth tourist behaviour, with the hope that these measures will encourage a more considerate approach to travel and home-and-garden, fostering an "other lifestyle" that values peace and respect.
