Tourists in Venice, Italy, might need to be a little more careful about where they stop for a rest. The mayor of this vacation hot spot has proposed fining tourists up to €500 (about $588) for sitting in undesignated areas.
According to CNN, Venice has a population of 50,000, but receives more than 30 million tourists per year. In order to maintain quality of life for locals, as well as visitors, the city already has a number of behavioral regulations.
Except in designated areas, sitting in St. Mark’s Square and specific areas around it results in a fine of €200 ($235). Visitors are also forbidden from swimming in the canals, biking in Venice city center, and walking in only a bathing suit.
The mayor’s latest proposal will expand the no-sitting rule outside of the areas already identified. According to USA Today, the city council will vote on the proposal this October.
The behavioral regulations are a part of the city’s #EnjoyRespectVenezia campaign, which aims to create an atmosphere of “sustainable tourism” to maintain the city’s culture and way of life.
