Capri: From Imperial Playground to Tourist Dormitory
Capri, a Mediterranean island known for its blue seas, stunning views, and cove-studded coastline, has been a popular tourist destination since ancient Roman times.
However, unlike in the imperial era when emperors had the island to themselves, Capri now attracts tourists from around the world, leading to overcrowding, congested alleys, and packed piazzas during the summer months.
Capri, a small island in Italy, attracts 16,000 tourists daily during peak season, surpassing its resident population of 12,900.
Most tourists are day-trippers, but an increasing number stay overnight due to the proliferation of holiday lets.
Teodorico Boniello, the head of the local consumers' association, expressed concern, stating that Capri is transforming into a tourist dormitory.
The influx of tourists outpaces the island's capacity, making it difficult for families to establish roots due to high living costs.
Capri represents many European holiday hotspots, where locals rely on tourism for their livelihoods but face the risk of losing their picture-perfect beauty spots to mass tourism.
Several Italian towns and islands are implementing new measures to manage overcrowding and revenue.
Venice was the first to introduce an entrance fee for visitors during peak periods.
Florence has banned new holiday lets in the city center, while the Cinque Terre park on the Italian Riviera started charging a 15 euro access fee for a popular coastal footpath.
Capri doubled its visitor fee from 2.5 euros to 5 euros during the tourist season.