The small gondolas that drive tourists for 80 euros for about 30 minutes through the narrow canals of Venice, may in the future include not more than six, but only five people. The has decided to the Association of gondoliers, as several media reports.

the Official reason for the reduction in the number of passengers: They wanted more security when Maneuvering. Raoul Roveratto, President of a further Gondoliers Association, chose stronger words in an interview with “La Repubblica”: “tourists today are overweight. Some of the countries best own bombs our boats. And if a boat is fully loaded, it drops the trunk and water runs into the gondola. To drive with more than half a ton of meat on Board is dangerous.“

tourists in the past 15 years of heavy use

to become a Little milder words Andrea Balbi, the President of the Gondoliers Association, in an interview with the Guardian: “It is true that tourists weigh, compared to ten or 15 years ago, a little bit more.” It compares the limit with the warning Signs in elevators that specify either the maximum number of persons or maximum weight. “Unfortunately, we have no scales to weigh people, so we have reduced the number of passengers.”

He confirms the Argument, that water can run into the gondola, if it is too heavily loaded. He adds, however, that some of the gondolas had never been for six persons: “So, the sixth Person is sitting in a place without a pillow, because the boat was only built for five people.”

the Taxi-gondolas also

affected Also transport the larger “Da Parada”-gondolas, which are primarily used as Taxis on the canals, shall, in the future, the number of passengers. The Association has decided to reduce the maximum number of passengers from 14 to twelve people.

Venice is not the first tourist destination that takes precautions due to the weight of visitors. 2018 the Greek island of Santorini issued a ban for obese tourists, riding on a donkey. Animal rights activists had complained that the animals suffered by the load of the passengers of the long-term damage.

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