In its battle with overtourism, Florence in Italy has mandated holiday rental owners to ditch self-check-in keyboxes by February 25, state media reports. Often used by owners to eliminate in-person exchanges of keys and registration, critics argue these keyboxes are "unsightly". They also argue that using keyboxes heightens potential security concerns as there is no direct contact between guests and hosts. According to reports, these boxes are vandalised with locals allegedly taping them closed.
According to reports, owners who do not respect the ban will be forced to remove the keyboxes. Additionally, fines of up to EUR 400 (approximately INR 36,000) will be levied.
Moreover, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has mandated visual guest identification before check-in, state reports.
Notably, other popular cities like Rome and Venice have also taken similar measures to curb overtourism, citing concerns over the lack of affordable housing for locals. Meanwhile, hoteliers claim short-term rentals negatively impact their business; long-stay guests, they claim, tend to keep businesses afloat with sustained incomes. As per media reports, Florence has 15,000 apartments available for holiday renters currently—a number that the government hopes to bring down to 7,000 to 8,000.
Venice, for instance, recently upped the day-tripper admission fee for travellers flocking to the seaport (details here). Rome, on the other hand, has introduced reservations, with fixed time slots and a cap on the number of people visiting, at Trevi Fountain (read more about it here).
