Tourists could be banned from using a wheeled suitcase in part of a holiday destination popular with British tourists. Dubrovnik is said to be considering new measures in a bid to protect its historic Old Town.
The mayor is looking at a new policy to reduce the impact of tourism on local residents. Local residents reportedly complained about waking to the sounds of tourists clattering through the streets with suitcases in the middle of the night.
According to Croatian publication, Jutarnji List, tourists will need to carry their luggage through the streets this summer. From November, the hotspot is planning to develop a system where tourists will leave their luggage before entering the old town.
They will then need to pay a fee to have it delivered to their accommodation in a move that the mayor said was “just the beginning”, the Express reports. Britons travelling with a backpack or a holdall will not be affected by the change as it’s only targeting wheeled suitcases.
Tourists have also been urged not to walk pets without a leash, not to climb on monuments or walk around without wearing a shirt. Dubrovnik has fast become one of Europe’s most crowded cities, with 36 tourists for every local resident.
The rise in visitors has led to overcrowding, traffic jams and surging house prices for local residents. The city is popular for its charming walled Old Town and as the location for HBO’s Game of Thrones.
The popular hotspot isn’t the only European destination to be growing tired of the number of tourists. Several Italian destinations have introduced limits on the number of tourists who can drive as well as rules on clothing.
A leading Austrian destination went further still when it erected a fence to block the view to try to stop tourists from taking so many selfies.
