Italy's new tourist regulations: Personal check-ins mandated

The decision by the Italian ministry is a response to growing concerns over the rapid increase in the number of apartments being allocated for short-term rentals to tourists. Authorities in historic cities, such as Florence, had already introduced local regulations aimed at curbing this trend, which negatively impacts residents' lives and the character of these areas.

In recent weeks, protests have taken place across various regions of Italy, from the north to the south, against the conversion of more apartments, and even entire buildings, into tourist accommodations. Activists, including those in Rome, expressed their opposition by covering or removing key lockboxes, which allowed remote access to apartments.

The Italian Ministry of the Interior issued a circular, a special official document, stating that key handover must be conducted exclusively in person. This signals the end of the practice of placing key lockboxes on entry doors, which could be opened with a code sent to tourists.

The ministry emphasizes that remote identification and sending copies of documents electronically do not guarantee full security and may lead to situations where apartments are occupied by individuals with unknown identities.

Italian media note that the ministry's decision is a victory for the so-called "Robin Hood teams" - groups of activists in Rome fighting against mass tourism. The new regulations were introduced deliberately right before the inauguration of the Holy Year in Rome, during which the city expects roughly 32 million tourists and pilgrims.