Value and impact of tourism: problems and solutions

Over 2.5 million tourists visit Pompeii each year, and over half a million visit Herculaneum. This large influx places significant strain on the sites and contributes to considerable wear and tear.

The high volume of visitors creates a need for special amenities such as food venues, toilets, and waste disposal facilities.

Currently, no dedicated walkways or viewing platforms have been constructed to accommodate tourists. As a result, visitors walk directly on the ancient streets, and the constant foot traffic gradually wears down the original stone surfaces.

Given Pompeii’s vast size, it is almost impossible to completely prevent vandalism, such as tourists inscribing their names or graffiti on ancient walls.

Small items, including mosaic tiles, fragments of pottery, and pieces of marble, are frequently removed by visitors as souvenirs or souvenirs, leading to the loss of valuable archaeological material.

In August 2020, Italian police launched an investigation after a tourist climbed onto the walls of Pompeii’s thermal baths to take a selfie, risking damage to the fragile structure.

Fees paid by tourists represent an important source of revenue for the management and conservation of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The significance of this income was underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, which caused a severe and prolonged drop in tourism. This decline placed substantial financial pressure on the management of heritage sites across Italy, including Pompeii and Herculaneum.