In Rome, a tourist climbed the Trevi Fountain to fill a bottle with water and caused the indignation of residents. This is not the only case because of which Italians compare the behavior of tourists with an attack by vandals, writes CBS News.
The Trevi Fountain in Rome is considered a baroque masterpiece, and the prank of a tourist climbing on it is an unacceptable act. Especially since just a few months ago, Italians were outraged by the behavior of another vacationer who carved his and his girlfriend’s initials into the Colosseum, an ancient amphitheater that has stood for thousands of years.
In Venice, a British tourist ignored the warnings of passers-by and jumped from a five-story building into one of the city’s UNESCO-protected canals. In Paris, two drunk Americans were found sleeping on top of the legendary Eiffel Tower. A few days later, a man climbed to the top of the tower and jumped off, opening his parachute.
These incidents have prompted European officials to call for laws to hold tourists accountable for bad behavior. Daniela Santanche, Italy’s tourism minister, said it was time for governments to take tough measures.
“These tourists are real vandals who do not respect the cultural heritage that belongs not only to Italy but to the whole world. We offer a very simple billing concept: you break something, you pay for it,” Santanche said.
In April, the Amsterdam authorities also began to introduce measures against tourists who come to the city for a “hot night”. The availability of cannabis and recreational sex has made it a popular destination for foreign guests to party. Officials imposed restrictions on this activity in response to complaints from residents.
Other countries have taken more creative measures. In Spain, locals have started placing signs on beaches warning tourists of false dangers such as jellyfish and falling rocks.
Part of the rise in bad behavior is due to the rise in tourism. Only from the USA, there are 55% more tourists in Europe this year than last year. Lucrezia Miseri, a doctor of philosophy at the University of Rome, noted that the massive influx and terrible behavior of tourists make life in the city difficult. “I feel so angry… It’s really sad. You can’t just come and do whatever you want,” she said.