Rome's b&b boom: Mayor Gualtieri calls for urgent controls

Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, highlighted that Italian mayors cannot control this trend, which presents a serious challenge ahead of the upcoming Holy Year. The capital is expecting around 30 million pilgrims and tourists from nearly every corner of the globe.

During Thursday’s meeting, a part of the preparations for the Holy Year 2025, Roberto Gualtieri addressed the challenges posed by B&B accommodations.

He pointed out that the absence of necessary powers for local governments complicates the situation. "Today, mayors in Italy—which is almost unique worldwide—do not have the authority to limit this issue," he emphasized.

The city authorities are concerned that further increases in the number of accommodation facilities could lead to the depopulation of central Rome. "It is crucial to prevent entire areas in the centre from becoming depopulated and turned into tourist apartments because the residents of this part of the city are the most important," added the mayor.

Residents of the Italian capital are also voicing their concerns. At the end of October, a local community protest was held at Campo de' Fiori, opposing excessive tourism and its impact on daily life. City authorities emphasize that they don't want to completely eliminate the B&B sector but aim to regulate it.