The ancient Roman city of Pompeii, frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, now faces a new threat: the relentless march of overtourism. This summer saw an unprecedented surge of visitors, with numbers swelling to 4 million – a deluge that risks irreversible damage to the fragile UNESCO World Heritage site. Drastic measures are being implemented to stem the tide and preserve Pompeii for generations to come.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park, sounded the alarm: “We are working on a series of projects to lift the human pressure on the site, which could pose risks both for visitors and the heritage [that is] so unique and fragile.” The ruins, once a bustling city, now strain under the weight of 15,000-20,000 daily visitors in peak season. Left unchecked, this onslaught threatens to erode the very history Pompeii embodies.
A Cap on Crowds: 20,000 Per Day
To combat the crushing crowds, Pompeii will limit visitors to 20,000 per day starting November 15th. Personalised tickets bearing each visitor’s full name will be issued, with staggered entry times during the busy summer months. By controlling the flow of foot traffic, officials hope to alleviate the stress on the 2,000-year-old structures and provide a more pleasant experience for those who do gain entry.
Dispersing Crowds to Satellite Sites
In tandem with the cap, efforts are underway to entice visitors to explore the wider Pompeiian territory. Free shuttle buses will connect the main site to lesser-known but equally captivating ruins at Stabiae, Oplontis, and Boscoreale. By spreading the crowds, pressure can be relieved on the central excavations while exposing travelers to new facets of the ancient world.
“We are aiming for slow, sustainable, pleasant and non-mass tourism and, above all, widespread throughout the territory around the Unesco site, which is full of cultural jewels to discover.”
– Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park
A Test Case for Curbing Overtourism
Pompeii’s plight is not unique. From the canals of Venice to the peaks of Machu Picchu, iconic destinations worldwide are grappling with the double-edged sword of tourism. While visitors bring vital economic benefits, unchecked crowds can degrade the very sites they flock to see. Venice, for instance, introduced a controversial entry fee this year in a bid to thin the throngs.
As more locations mull restricting access, Pompeii will serve as a crucible, testing whether caps and diversion can strike a sustainable balance. If successful, the measures could provide a template for besieged sites elsewhere, offering hope that our shared heritage can be preserved without slamming the gates entirely.
Saving History for the Future
At its core, the battle against overtourism at Pompeii is a fight to save history itself. The city, entombed in ash, offers an unparalleled window into the daily life of an ancient civilization – a glimpse that excessive crowds threaten to shutter. By taking resolute action now, custodians aim to ensure that future generations can still walk those cobbled streets, marvel at frescoed villas, and forge a tangible connection to the distant past.
The onslaught of overtourism has backed Pompeii into a corner, forcing officials to make hard choices to safeguard the city’s legacy. Capping crowds may disappoint some, but it’s a vital step to prevent the ruins from crumbling under the weight of their own popularity. If Pompeii can successfully navigate this challenge, it could light the way for other besieged sites, offering hope that our shared heritage can be preserved without slamming the gates on tourism entirely. The fate of Pompeii – and the history it embodies – hangs in the balance.
