A historic region in Italy will cap the number of tourists that it allows to visit at any one time as it has 'reached the limit' of what it can take.
The autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige is a popular holiday hotspot which brought in some 34 million visitors last year. However, it has now banned new hotels and Airbnbs from opening up and will cap tourist numbers to 2019 levels, when there were 230,000 beds available.
New hotels and holiday rental properties can be opened up until a current one closes its doors under the new cap, reports the Mirror. Additionally, travellers in the region can no longer freely visit the glacial Lago di Braies, a picturesque and popular lake.
You now have to register in advance to visit the lake unless you go via foot to avoid bottle-necks along the path.
Regional capital Bolzano is also home to Otzi the Iceman, the naturally mummified body of a local man who died around 5,200 years ago.
Arnold Schuler is responsible for tourism in the province and has proposed the new laws to counteract the growing popularity.
"We reached the limit of our resources, we had problems with traffic, and residents have difficulty finding places to live," He told CNN. "Tourists come here to hike and to see beautiful places, not to find themselves in a traffic jam.
"The tourism sector is very important for us, for jobs and the economy, but we had reached the limit, so we took these measures to guarantee a better management of the flow of people, and to guarantee lodging for tourists."
It comes after holidaymakers headed to Spain this year have been warned as two popular beaches are set to close.
The beaches of Torrebermeja and Las Gaviotas will be shuttered on weekdays but reopen on weekends, according to authorities in Benalmádena.
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