Italy, curbs on mass tourism/ Restrictions imposed in Capri

2026-02-16 08:43:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Capri has just 13,000 inhabitants, but in the summer up to 50,000 tourists a day flood the island, causing overcrowding in the ports and tourist attractions. The local council will counter this with new rules.

Starting next summer, the idyllic Mediterranean island in the Bay of Naples, Capri, will implement stricter rules for tourists: only organized groups of tourists of up to 40 people will be allowed to go ashore, according to the Ansa news agency.

Accordingly, the island's municipal council unanimously approved the relevant regulations. These also stipulate that guides for groups of more than 20 people are no longer allowed to use loudspeakers when conducting tours in the main town of Capri. Instead, they must communicate with tourists via radio headsets.

This is intended to protect other people on the island – especially the locals – from noise and disturbance. In future, tour group leaders will be allowed to identify themselves as such by wearing a lanyard around their neck – and will no longer be required to attract attention with, for example, tents or cloths tied to poles. They will also have to ensure that their groups stay together and are safe throughout the journey and do not take up too much space on the city streets and squares.

Tens of thousands of visitors every day during the main season

Capri in the Bay of Naples is one of the most popular and visited holiday destinations in Italy. The island is known for its whitewashed villas, rocky coastline with bays and luxury hotels, especially in the main town. In the high season, the average number of visitors is estimated to be up to 50,000 per day.

The tiny island has a population of just 13,000. Especially in the summer, the ports, lookout points and historical monuments are regularly overcrowded. Lorenzo Coppola, head of the local trade association Ascom Confcommercio Capri, welcomed the restrictions that the local council has now adopted.

These are a "necessary means of relieving the burden" in congested areas that would restore the island's roads and sidewalks to their rightful place./ DW