"Fines for Pulling Suitcases or Taking Selfies"... Europe Implements Drastic Measures Amid Tourist Surge

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After the COVID-19 pandemic, as European countries experienced an excessive influx of tourists that infringed on the lives of local residents, a phenomenon known as 'overtourism' has emerged, prompting tourist destinations to devise measures to prevent it.

[Photo by Pixabay]

According to the UK Mirror on the 3rd (local time), travelers caught pulling wheeled suitcases (carriers) on the streets of the Old Town in Dubrovnik, Croatia, must pay a fine of 230 British pounds (approximately 380,000 KRW).

Dubrovnik is a tourist destination widely known in Korea after being featured on the tvN variety show 'Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency.' Recently, as numerous tourists have visited the city, noise pollution caused by suitcase wheels has worsened, leading to the passage of this law. Every year, 1.5 million visitors come to Dubrovnik, which is 40 times the local population of 41,000.

Starting this November, Dubrovnik plans to prohibit carrying suitcases entirely in the Old Town streets. If tourists wish to enter the area, they must pay and use a service that delivers luggage to their accommodation by electric car.

In addition, Dubrovnik regulates that noise levels on terraces of cafes and bars must not exceed 55 dB to reduce noise pollution. If violated, the establishment will be fined and must close for seven days.

[Photo by Pixabay]

Portofino, an Italian city famous for its beautiful harbor, introduced a 'selfie fine' system in April. This was due to excessive crowds of tourists in certain photo spots causing traffic congestion and road closures.

According to the BBC, Portofino has designated the area as a 'red zone,' and tourists taking photos there face fines of up to 275 euros (approximately 390,000 KRW). This system is enforced daily from morning until 6 p.m. until October 15.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.