Italian beauty spot launches tourist crackdown with Britons fined €275 just for lingering
The ban is the latest in a string of rulings seemingly aimed at freezing out tourists and in particular, Britons.
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A popular hotspot in Italy has launched new anti-tourist measures with €275 fines for loitering in selfie hotspots in an attempt to put an end to "anarchic chaos".
The mayor of Portofino has introduced a no-loitering rule in two "red zones" where visitors often take photographs and tourism groups crowd together.
The no-waiting zones were put into effect amid the Easter break tourism boom that saw around 1.7 million holidaymakers visiting Italian city centres, a 12 per cent increase from last year.
The ban is the latest in a string of rulings seemingly aimed at freezing out tourists and in particular, Britons.
The village is known for its seafood, luxurious boutiques and pastel-coloured homes.
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Portofino's newly instated no-waiting zone bans are active daily from morning time until 6pm and the bans will remain in effect through October 15.
Mayor Matteo Viacava insists the ban is not aimed at making the city "more exclusive" but instead to "allow everyone to enjoy our beauty" and "avoid dangerous situations caused by overcrowding".
He said the crowds of loitering tourists prevent access for emergency services which could be very dangerous.
The tiny fishing village, which has a population of 369, is known for its seafood, luxurious boutiques and pastel-coloured homes.
It comes after several European cities have taken measures to discourage tourism and the negative behaviours associated with it.
Tourist chiefs in Amsterdam warned British men to "stay away" as part of a major new operation to clean up the city and rid it of rowdy and hedonistic behaviour.
The new campaign features a staged video showing a young man being arrested after he was found stumbling along the city's streets.
Hundreds held a protest against the campaign in support of Britons, saying that they are not associated with bad behaviour any more than any other nationality.
Amsterdam officials warned British men to 'stay away
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Similarly, Lanzarote President Dolores Corujo last month claimed the island was being saturated by British tourists and instead wanted to accommodate more "higher-quality" travellers from mainland Europe.
However, her remarks were met with backlash, including from the Tourist Federation of Lanzarote which reiterated the island has "very strong ties" with British tourists and will continue to be "absolutely hospitable" towards them.
The tourism body called on Ms Corujo to "clarify the situation" and meet with representatives from the UK market to reiterate that the island is "open to the reception of visitors from any part of the world."
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