![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/popular-european-holiday-attraction-reveals-rule-change-to-cut-tourist-numbers/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/aerial-view-village-rezzonico-lake-836403439.jpg&description=A POPULAR European must-see attraction has made the "drastic decision" to slash visitor numbers in order to preserve its beauty. The lakeside villa, famed for its role in blockbusters like James Bond and Star Wars, will halve its visitor allowance as Italy continues to battle with the effects of overtourism. 4 The stunning 18th Century Villa del Balbianello is trying to combat the damage caused by too many tourists Credit: Getty 4 The 'drastic decision' has been taken to almost half the visitor numbers at the lakeside mansion Credit: Getty Villa del Balbianello, set on the shores of the luxurious Lake Como in northern Italy, is significantly cutting the number of tourists who can visit each day from 2,000 to 1,200. The elegant 18th Century mansion featured in the 2006 Bond film Casino Royale as well as Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and draws in tourists from far and wide. The villa was built in 1787 out of the ruins of a Franciscan convent and is often used for weddings, events and film scenes - but recently has been feeling the crush of its high footfall. Reducing the number of visitors was 'a drastic decision', said the FAI, the Italian equivalent of The National Trust. The new rules are designed to counter the effect of 'an excess of tourism that has an ever great impact on Lake Como," they told The Telegraph . Although the villa will see a large drop in its revenue, the FAI say that the decision was necessary to protect the villa and its gardens. They argued that allowing too many tourists to visit "not only puts at risk the preservation of the property" but also "damages its image". Post-pandemic, Italy has seen hoards of holidaymakers readily return to its major sites, leading to despair over the dangers posed by mass tourism. Sixty million tourists are expected to flock to Italy this year now that travel restrictions have ceased - almost returning to pre-pandemic levels. While restaurateurs, hoteliers, tourist guides and taxi drivers welcome these numbers,){kind=link}
A POPULAR European must-see attraction has made the “drastic decision” to slash visitor numbers in order to preserve its beauty.
The lakeside villa, famed for its role in blockbusters like James Bond and Star Wars, will halve its visitor allowance as Italy continues to battle with the effects of overtourism.
Villa del Balbianello, set on the shores of the luxurious Lake Como in northern Italy, is significantly cutting the number of tourists who can visit each day from 2,000 to 1,200.
The elegant 18th Century mansion featured in the 2006 Bond film Casino Royale as well as Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and draws in tourists from far and wide.
The villa was built in 1787 out of the ruins of a Franciscan convent and is often used for weddings, events and film scenes – but recently has been feeling the crush of its high footfall.