A travel expert has issued a warning about major changes taking effect at a world-renowned tourist attraction from tomorrow.
Numerous cities have been grappling with overtourism in recent years, with authorities working totackle enormous crowds and unacceptable conduct.
Rome has now joined the growing listof cities taking action. Visitors wishing to see the famous Trevi Fountain will be required to pay a €2 (£1.75) entrance fee. The new charge for tourists comes into effect on February 2.
Coins thrown into the fountain will continue to be donated to charity, but the entrance fee for the Baroque landmark will go to the city council. Officials say the money will fund the fountain's maintenance as well as visitor management.
Rome anticipates generating €6.5million annually from the fountain alone. Furthermore, the Trevi Fountain isn't the only attraction where tourists will now face charges, as fees have been introduced at five additional sites including the Napoleonic Museum, reports the Express.
The Trevi Fountain attracts approximately 30,000 visitors daily. Travel expert Simon Calder offered his perspective on the new charging system,revealing it took him 15 minutes to secure a ticket.
He confessed: "It's a real faff, but they say it is necessary at the Trevi Fountain, and five other locations around Rome, in order to keep tourism manageable."
Explaining the rationale behind the fee, Simon told BBC Breakfast : "The idea is that tourism is so intense in some key locations, that you have got to do something to control it."
Discussing the impact of the charge, Simon said: "I don't think it will put people off, it will hopefully make the experience a bit more manageable.
"There has been cases of people climbing into the fountain, they have police there prepared to haul them out and fine them heavily.
"I think Romans are in two separate camps here. There's the people that say it is a public space, you can't possibly start regulating entry, it is anti-democratic and anti-freedom.
"Then there's others that say, frankly, when you're into the summer in Rome things become a bit unmanageable and anything we can do to try to bring some decorum has to be a good thing."
From February, tourists and non-residents wanting to enter the basin of the Trevi Fountain must shell out two euros for a ticket, which grants access daily between 9am and 10pm.
Rome residents, youngsters aged five and under, and disabled visitors can still enter without charge. Viewing the Trevi Fountain from afar will remain completely free.
