The number of visitors to the archaeological site of Pompeii in Italy will now be limited to 20,000 per day, after a surge in tourism saw four millions visitors last year
The number of tourists flocking to the archaeological site of Pompeii in Italy will now be capped following a surge in visitors.
In October, an unprecedented 36,000 people descended on the site in a single day. As demand continues to soar, the park has decided to limit the daily visitor count to 20,000. Although entry was previously free, a £14 fee has been introduced to manage the flow of visitors. This restriction will take effect on November 15.
In 2023, the site welcomed four million visitors, a third more than in 2022. In October alone, a staggering 480,000 visitors explored the Pompeii centre. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park’s director, explained that the new limit had been implemented for both conservation and safety reasons.
He said: “We are working on a series of projects to lift the human pressure on the site, which could pose risks both for visitors and the heritage (that is) so unique and fragile”, reports the Express. “The measures to manage flows and safety and the personalisation of the visits are part of this strategy.
Do you have a story to tell us? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
“We are aiming for slow, sustainable, pleasant and non-mass tourism and above all widespread throughout the territory around the UNESCO site, which is full of cultural jewels to discover.”
Pompeii was obliterated over 1,000 years ago when Mount Vesuvius erupted, leaving behind destroyed buildings and corpses that can still be seen today. Entry tickets to Pompeii start at €18 (£14.90). Authorities are also urging tourists to visit the areas surrounding Pompeii, which are also of historical significance.
Named The Greater Pompeii Project, the initiative aims to enhance the actions and interventions for protecting the archaeological area of Pompeii, by developing conservation, maintenance and restoration. As a part of the project, the Park of Pompeii launched a new accessibility plan that offers a range of inter-connected tours to the various sites.
A single ticket – valid for three days – allows holidaymakers to access a free shuttle service which links the different sites — Pompeii, Boscoreale, Oplontis and Stabiae and all the surrounding territory. Alternatively, individuals are able to purchase an annual season ticket, My Pompeii Card, which costs €35 (£28.99) (or €8 (£6.63) for EU citizens aged between 18 and 25).
“Outside the walls of Pompeii, there is cultural heritage that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world: the villas of Stabiae, Boscoreale, Torre Annunziata, Villa of the Mysteries, and Villa of Diomedes. This heritage is of incalculable importance and, thanks to the Grande Pompei (Greater Pompeii) initiative, will become an integral part of a single greater park area, a veritable archaeological and cultural landscape”, stated the Park director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
“The shuttle service, included in the entrance ticket, has been designed to link up all these places: like an airport, it is a single entity because at any time I can take the shuttle from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4, without needing to consult a timetable or buy a special ticket,” added Mr Zuchtriegel. “This now comprises Grande Pompei (Greater Pompeii) which, as of today, can be experienced as one large park area extending from the sea to Vesuvius and the Lattari Mountains.”
