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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The flight figures that prove Portofino really is busier than ever - as tourists claim it's TOO crowded
Tourist flights going into Portofino will rise dramatically again this year - despite British visitors this week reporting that it's already 'too crowded' this summer and the Italian resort's mayor recently introducing tough new rules on tourist behaviour. Like much of the Med this summer, the resort, which sits on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, has also been the subject of anti-tourism protests - but figures exclusively gained by MailOnline suggest that this year far more tourists descending than in previous years. The pretty coastal village announced on July 15th it was taking a hard line on tourists deemed to be misbehaving - introducing fines of up to 500 euros for those caught drinking alcohol in the street, wearing swimwear in its historic piazza and picnic-ing outdoors. The temporary rules, which expire on September 30th, are part of a bid to ensure the elegant Italian resort remains civilised this summer, says its mayor, Matteo Viacava. One tourist in the glamorous destination this week shared images of holidaymakers jostling for space on a crowded beach, saying: 'You travelled to a "secret beach" in Portofino, except it definitely isn't secret anymore.' The caption read: 'Expectation vs Reality in Portofino! Literally took one look at the crowds and left.' Another TikToker posted a clip of a busy street in Portofino and simply wrote, 'Watching Portofino get flooded with tourists'. According to data collected by aviation analysts Cirium, the gateway airport to Portofino, Genoa, will see nearly 142,000 more visitors jet in to the region this year than last. The figures revealed that in 2024, there were 5,038 flights and 800,100 seats arriving into Genoa from global airports. For 2025, however, the predicted number of global flights arriving into the Italian hub is 5,650 - with 941,600 seats. From the UK, there's also been a significant bump in the number of Brits booking flights that will land them close to Portofino - the airport of Genoa is less than an hour west by car. Last year saw 350 flights from the UK, with the vast majority leaving from London Stansted, with around 50 flights departing out of Manchester, with a total number of around 66,300 seats. This year, that figure is scheduled to rise to 367 flights, equivalent to 69,600 seats. It's just days since the village announced it was introducing tough new rules to protect itself from the perils of overtourism. Consuming alcohol on public streets in Portofino has been prohibited, with drinkers confined to restaurants, bars, and designated areas. Begging, sitting, or lying on the streets, walls, sidewalks and parks has also been banned along with having picnics. Anyone who is caught violating the regulations before then will be subject to a fine of between £22 and £433. The goal of the latest crackdown is to protect the 'peace and quiet of residents and tourists' in the exclusive coastal resort which brings in up to 100,000 tourists during peak season - despite the town only having a population of 400. When it comes to madding summer crowds, much of Europe's most popular tourist destinations paint a similar picture. In the Italian village of Varenna - famed for its tiny streets and colourful facades of houses - Brits have complained of crowds so dense they were barely able to reach down to take their phones out of their pockets. Meanwhile, footage from the Greek island of Santorini - adored by influencers for its breathtaking sunsets and views across the Mediterranean - show thousands of people inching along narrow streets with barely enough room to pass each other. Disappointed sunseekers have taken to social media to share how their dream holiday didn't quite match reality. A holidaymaker in Lake Como, Italy, posted a video warning others what to expect, showing packed coastal pathways and an hour long line for the ferry. The clip is captioned: 'Lake Como in June is so amazing, the views are stunning, but so many people and waiting times.' Another visitor likened the experience to 'the tourist hunger games' alongside a seemingly endless line of people. A woman visiting Positano, on Italy's Amalfi Coast, was also left disappointed by her experience. She said: 'Social media lied. I've been dreaming of going to Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast for years. 'And while it is definitely a very beautiful town, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. 'I was expecting all of the stairs, but I wasn't expecting the magnitude of the crowds and the lineups. 'Positano has become a travel destination where you need to have every moment of your itinerary planned out in advance, and book reservations for pretty much everything. 'Otherwise, it will all be booked up before you even touch down in Italy.' Meanwhile, in Greece, overcrowding is also frustrating sunseekers. One woman revealed how much the island of Santorini has changed since her last visit two years ago, before the tourism surge became so severe. She posted a picture of a packed street, writing, 'Santorini! When we stayed here in 2022, we scoffed at the people who came off the cruise ships. 'This time, we were those people! Santorini in summer is no joke. The heat, the crowds, the lines. No magic this time. Just sweat, nausea and swollen feet. 'Don't be deceived by the smiling faces.' Some areas have introduced special measures in an attempt to crack down on overcrowding. Portofino has banned walking barefoot, picnics and drinking booze on the streets among a swathe of other prohibitions. Tourists risk being fined for carrying out a variety of actions typically enjoyed abroad. From July 15, travellers in Portofino will no longer be able to walk through the town barefoot, in swimwear, or topless - or sit in the piazza in such attire. Consuming alcohol on public streets has also been prohibited, with only restaurants, bars and designated areas left to booze in. Begging, sitting, or lying on the streets, walls, sidewalks and parks has also been banned along with having picnics. The new ordinance, signed by Mayor Matteo Viacava, will take effect during the summer season and temporarily expire on September 30. Anyone who is caught violating the regulations before then will be subject to a fine of between £22 and £433. The goal of the latest crackdown is to protect the 'peace and quiet of residents and tourists' in the exclusive coastal resort which brings in up to 100,000 tourists during peak season - despite the town only having a population of 400. The municipality had already attempted to combat troublesome tourists in 2023. During that period, stopping at particularly popular viewpoints across the picturesque town was prohibited. These include a tourist tax, restrictions on access and parking, and a proposed 'saturation law' limiting daily visitor numbers. @vickirutwind Social media lied 😳 🇮🇹 I've been dreaming of going to Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast for years. And while it is definitely a very very very beautiful town, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. ✈️ I was expecting all of the stairs, but I wasn't expecting the magnitude of the crowds and the lineups. 📝 Positano has become a travel destination where you need to have every moment of your itinerary planned out in advance, and book reservations for pretty much everything. Otherwise, it will all be booked up before you even touch down in Italy. And while that might be your travel style, I really like having an opportunity to explore and be spontaneous. 💴 I also think if you want some of the magical experiences you are seeing on social media, you have to pay a major premium to stay at the super luxury hotels, and dine at the most expensive restaurants with reservations booked way in advance. 🌎 In the end, I did still have a nice time in Positano because it's a beautiful town, the main beach has a nice beach club, and we had some nice meals. But for now, it's not one of my favorite travel destinations. I'm on the fence about whether I'll return. Have you been to Positano? And if you have, what did you think about it? #positano #positanoitaly #amalficoast #travelitaly #instagramvsreality #italytravel ♬ original sound - william springfield One woman revealed how much the island of Santorini has changed since her last visit two years ago, before the tourism surge became so severe Meanwhile, Spain's Balearic Islands have stopped using influencers to promote holiday hotspots and warned that 'selfie tourism' is ruining the region's most beautiful beaches. The move comes a year after jeering Mallorcan protestors descended on an Instagram-famous beach and blocked visitors from entering in a bid to combat mass tourism. Local authorities had originally hoped social media stars would help relieve the strain on some locations frequented by tourists by encouraging visitors to explore less popular sites. But the strategy has seemingly backfired, as some of these remote locations have now become flooded with selfie-snapping visitors, causing even more overcrowding and sparking further fury from locals contesting 'over tourism.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE It's the Instagram-friendly Mediterranean gem beloved of the A-listers... but are hordes of half naked, badly behaved tourists now ruining the picture-perfect port?
It's just gone 9.30am and the first of dozens of ferries carrying hundreds of tourists has arrived in the picturesque port of Portofino. The tiny fishing village, described as one of Italy 's 'natural jewels', has a population in the winter of just 350 but in the summer, it can increase twenty-fold as day trippers, and influencers hit the tiny streets. It's a magnet for VIPs as well with NBA legend magic Johnson visiting earlier his month and rock legends Elton John and Rod Stewart being regulars. But it emerged this week that the town - famed for its pastel houses and pretty waterside square lined with cafes, restaurants and designer boutiques - is now such a must do stop off point for tourists that it's becoming overrun. And indeed when MailOnline visited this week, we found the tiny Instagram-famous town was heaving with visitors with its narrow streets frequently so crowded they were impassible. Now the huge daily influx of visitors has led to many complaining visitors don't know how to behave decently. So of earlier this week mayor Matteo Viacava has introduced a bylaw until September 30 warning travellers to behave respectfully and with a degree of decorum that befits a fashionable and wealthy town with the one of the highest prop capita salaries in Italy (£90,000). Wandering around bare chested or in a swimsuit is strictly forbidden, as is strolling barefoot, through the town. And if you are thinking of stretching out on one of the benches to catch a few rays or have a snooze don't even think about it as that's banned too, along with drinking alcohol in public and having a picnic. When MailOnline visited this week, we found the tiny Instagram-famous town was heaving with visitors with its narrow streets frequently so crowded they were impassible Sitting or lying on paths and in the park is also against the rules and mayor Viacava has said anyone who breaches the edict will face a fine of up to 500 Euro. (£433) The order, number 17 of the year, is on the council's website and in a lofty word heavy title called:' Measures to protect public safety and security and the tranquillity and rest of residents and guards and safeguard the territory and environment'. Totalling eight pages, the bylaw explains the motive for the rules as being the 'heavy influx of tourists into the area during the summer months' which has 'impacted on civility and decorum'. But the news doesn't appear to have reached everyone as when MailOnline visited Portofino several tourists were wandering around shirtless and in swimwear and oblivious of the law. Landscape architect Elias Halling, 35, from Gothenburg, Sweden, was strolling around the famous piazza topless, enjoying the scenery and was stunned when told by MailOnline he was breaking the law. 'Really ?!,' he gasped before adding:' To be honest I was wondering why people were looking at me in a weird way. I had no idea at all it was against the law. 'The place is beautiful, and so are a lot of the people, but I don't see what harm I'm doing by walking around bare chested. 'I suppose the mayor wants to keep standards high, you can tell this is quite an upmarket place by looking at all the designer shops and expensive restaurants. 'The fine seems a lot of money for something which is pretty trivial but if they want to have that kind of strange law then I suppose I had a better follow it even though its 35c and so hot.' A little further on and past the multimillion superyachts bobbing in the water and the jetty where yet more ferries are docking from nearby Genoa, Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure, MailOnline spotted another pair of transgressors. Standing by the water edge was bare chested Pieter Van Dooren, 31, and his shoeless girlfriend Lieke Schins, 25, first time visitors to Portofino and both overwhelmed by its beauty but unaware of its bylaw. Recruitment entrepreneur Pieter, from Tilburg, Holland, said:'Oh my goodness, I don't want to get into trouble. Five hundred Euro is a lot of money to pay for just not wearing a shirt.' If you are thinking of stretching out on one of the benches to catch a few rays or have a snooze don't even think about it as that's banned too, along with drinking alcohol in public and having a picnic As we spoke worried student Lieke, hurriedly slipped into her sandals in case she was spotted by local police and said:' I don't want a fine either.' Pieter added: 'This place is like a fantasy world, it is so beautiful, a paradise and so elegant and romantic, so maybe that explains why the mayor has introduced this law. 'But you've got me worried as technically standing talking to you now I am illegal, although we had no idea of this law, I just wasn't aware until you told me so I'm lucky to have met you. 'You can tell it is a high-class elegant place, so maybe that's why the law was brought in, there seems to be a lot of people here and he doesn't want people walking round drunk and half naked. Having said that, I had better put my shirt on now.' Lieke added: 'It is so pretty here but at the same time so expensive, we were charged 100 Euro for four Prosecco and a few pieces of melon and ham. 'We knew it wasn't cheap here but still 100 Euro is a lot of money, but the prices don't seem to put people off, it's so busy but I had no idea of this crazy law so I will put my sandals on.' Portofino is certainly not the place for those on a budget – glance at one menu revealed a breakfast of bacon, eggs and cappuccino was an eyewatering 25 Euro (£21), with service not included. Requests for an interview with the mayor and had of local police for MailOnline were politely declined, as were requests over how many fines have been issued since the law was introduced. Intriguingly at one-point MailOnline spotted another bare chested man and approached an officer to tell them of the infringement but was given a curt brush off:' I'm doing my job, I'm here on parking duty, you stick with your job.' Meanwhile in a further bid to control the crowds police have also set up a checkpoint a mile from Portofino, once the 160 official car park spaces in the multi storey are full no vehicles are allowed in. Instead, travellers have to use shuttle buses to get in and out of Portofino and it was only thanks to flashing a press card that MailOnline was allowed in, with the officer on duty saying:' It is rammed in there, so good luck finding a space and don't park illegally.' Portofino's beauty is quite clear to see but it's also evident many visitors are there on a tick boxing exercise merely to post on social media as one bizarre scene unfolded in front of MailOnline. Setting up a tripod, by the water's edge, one woman dressed all in white began doing a series of 'lives' to her followers, pointing out the sights and occasionally pulling the edge of her skirt back to reveal her thigh. One local waiter said: 'It's crazy, it just gets busier and busier every year and yes ok it's good for business, but the numbers are just too much and the class of visitor is also not what it used to be. 'People come and take selfies, and they walk around in swim wear or bare chested, some covered in tattoos and it's not very pleasant to look at, the locals are all in favour of this new law. 'On busy days we can get 5,000 people a day and then when a cruise ship turns up that can bring in another 2,000 so imagine all those people in a tiny place like this.' Cruise ships are the thorn in Portofino's side and anchor just off the coast as they are far too big to come any closer, ferrying travellers to and from in tenders that criss cross the crystal clear Ligurian Sea. A glance at cruise timetables reveals that between now and the end of the month six giant ships are due in – one every 48 hours carrying almost 8,000 travellers in total. A worker at one of the upmarket boutiques told MailOnline:' It's some of these people on cruise ships that have no idea how to behave. 'They come here dressed in hardly anything, lowering the tone of Portofino and just rush about taking selfies, we have a reputation for class and elegance and just want people to follow the rules.' Speaking to local media as the order was revealed, mayor Viacavo also revealed next year an app would be introduced 'controlling the number of visitors' to Portofino by locking onto the number of mobiles active in the area. Mr Viacavo declined to go into details of how exactly the app would work but added:' Portofino is a jewel, whatever time of day it is and wherever you are, there are always people here and we are working to improve visitor experience. 'I'm not talking about putting a limit on numbers, but what I am saying is we must be able to control these numbers to allow the quality of life of locals to continue and make the visitor experience comfortable, if not even better. 'What we hope to do with the app is show the best time to visit, when it is quieter, we are not going to close Portofino off, it is for everybody, and I can't say to someone 'You can't come in but you can'. But as yet another shirtless tourist strolled across the square unchallenged, you had to wonder whether the bylaw was a meaningful act of law or just a simple publicity stunt.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
Popular Italian holiday hotspot bans walking barefoot, booze & picnics with rules-breaking tourists facing hefty fines
A CHARMING seaside gem nestled on the Italian Riviera has slapped strict rules on holidaymakers. Officials in Portofino, a town in Liguria famed for its narrow houses painted in tutti frutti shades, will be handing out fines to those who disrespect the picturesque hotspot. 3 From July 15, travellers will no longer be allowed to walk through the cobbled streets barefoot, in swimwear or topless. The rules are also extended for the piazza, Italian for the main square of a town. Boozing in the streets is also a no-go, with alcohol only prohibited in restaurants, bars, or designated areas. If your flip flops are causing you grief, make sure to plonk yourself down on a bench as sitting or lying on paths, walls and parks is against the rules. In a bid to crack down on litter and public nuisance, picnics are also banned. The regulations are only in place during the summer, where the town sees an influx of 100,000 tourists. In the quieter times of the year, the town only has a population of 400. The new ordinance, signed by Mayor Matteo Viacava, will temporarily expire on September 30. Anyone caught breaking the rules could be fined between £22 and £433. The fine system has been put in place to protect the "peace and quiet of residents and tourists". In the port city of Diano Marina, similar guidelines were put in place by the mayor, Cristiano Za Garibaldi. He told Telenord: "This is not a punishment, but a gesture of respect for the town, its residents, and visitors." Italy is the third most visited country in Europe, after France and Spain, and in 2023 saw around 57.3 million tourists. To cope with culture clashes, other cities in the stunning country have also imposed rules to protect their citizens. Picnics on bridges or monuments in Venice are not allowed, and in Rome its forbidden to bathe in fountains. On the island of Capri, it's frowned upon to wear noisy shoes like heels. Spain, the holiday hotspot for Brits since the travel boom in the 1970s, is also cracking down on travellers. There are now restrictions in place to stop holidaymakers drinking alcohol in public spaces including streets, parks, and on beaches. Drinking in a public space could result in fines up to £2,568. Areas in Majorca, such as Llucmajor, Palma and Magaluf, have also stopped the sale of alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am - as stated on the government website. These areas have also put a restriction on happy hour deals and have banned offers like 'all you can drink in one hour'. Hotels and other establishments, like bars, will also evict customers for dangerous behaviour - and will hand out fines too. Drinking alcohol on beaches is largely prohibited - especially during peak tourist seasons. Anyone caught drinking on the beach or promenade when the rules state otherwise will be fined on the spot, with the amount ranging from £1,285 to £2,568. A new law was passed in Spain last year that gives local municipalities the power to fine anyone caught smoking on the beach. If a municipality does take up the law, anyone caught smoking on the beach can be charged up to £1,700. Around 20 per cent of the country's beaches are already smoke-free zones and there's been a call for a total ban. 3 3
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Popular Brit tourist hotspot BANS walking barefoot, picnics and drinking booze on streets in brutal crackdown
A popular British tourist hotspot has banned walking barefoot, picnics, and drinking booze on the streets among a swathe of other prohibitions in a brutal crackdown. Holidaymakers visiting Portofino, a small coastal town on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, are now facing fines for carrying out a variety of actions typically seen abroad. Starting today, travellers in Portofino will no longer be able to walk through the town barefoot, in swimwear, or topless - or sit in the piazza in any of these conditions. Consuming alcohol on public streets has also been prohibited, with only restaurants, bars, and designated areas left to booze in. Begging, sitting, or lying on the streets, walls, sidewalks and parks have also been banned along with having picnics. The new ordinance, signed by Mayor Matteo Viacava, will take effect during the summer season and temporarily expire on September 30. Anyone who is caught violating the regulations before then will be subject to a fine of between £22 and £433. The goal of the latest crackdown is to protect the 'peace and quiet of residents and tourists' in the exclusive coastal resort which brings in up to 100,000 tourists during peak season - despite the town only having a population of 400. The municipality had already attempted to combat troublesome tourists in 2023. During that period, stopping at particularly popular viewpoints across the picturesque town was prohibited. In another Italian coastal town, the port city of Diano Marina, the mayor, Cristiano Za Garibaldi, has also drawn a line under the situation and issued similar strict guidelines. He told the Italian television station Telenord: 'This is not a punishment, but a gesture of respect for the town, its residents, and visitors.' Other cities across Italy have also implemented strict rules for tourists. Picnics on bridges or monuments are prohibited in Venice, bathing in fountains is forbidden in Rome, and noisy shoes are taboo on Capri. It comes after Albufeira, in southern Portugal, last month released a Code of Conduct banning everything from public nudity and sex acts to loud noise, and urinating in public. The harshest penalties - £426 and £1,500 - will apply to those caught fully naked or engaging in sexual acts in public. Partial nudity away from designated beach areas, public drinking, urinating or defecating in public, and creating excessive noise are also punishable by fines ranging from £255 to £1,277. Other violations listed in the code include spitting, misuse of public furniture, and abandoning shopping trolleys, as Albufeira City Council seeks to restore order and cleanliness in high-traffic tourist zones. The crackdown follows a series of incidents, including a viral video last year of eight British men dancing naked on a bar in broad daylight on Albufeira's main party strip, Rua da Oura. The UK Foreign Office issued a travel alert on Thursday, 26 June, warning British nationals of the new regulations, declaring: 'The municipality of Albufeira has introduced a code of conduct which bans inappropriate behaviour in public places. 'Check out the rules that are now in force. If you break the rules, you could be fined on the spot from between 150 and 1,800 euros.' Speaking in May, Mayor José Carlos Rolo said the code was part of a broader strategy to repair Albufeira's image, adding that the rules hope to 'promote harmony' between the tourism sector and local population. Meanwhile, Faro Airport in Portugal started the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals last month ahead of the peak summer season in the Algarve. The announcement comes after the Government said on May 19 that British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports as part of a UK-EU deal. Since Brexit, Britons arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology – leading to long waits, particularly in peak periods.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sofia Bertucci joins Parma on loan
Sofia Bertucci's loan move to Parma for one season has now been made official. The 20-year-old defender will play the 2025/2026 season with the newly promoted Serie A Women team. Bertucci spent the 2024/25 season playing top-flight football with Sampdoria, taking to the field on 16 occasions, 14 of which were starts. She also scored the first Serie A goal of her career. Before her experience in Liguria, Bertucci played for Napoli Femminile on loan for a season, following her spell with the Juventus Under-19 team. Good luck with your new adventure, Sofia!
