This European country has prepared a financial penalty for tourists wearing flip-flops. Why?
Cinque Terre is the name of a province on the northwestern coast of the Ligurian Sea in Italy, which covers five picturesque towns, which were formed on a rocky, steep cliff coast.
In recent years, the local mountain rescue units have had to intervene many times at accidents that happened on winding and narrow roads, which connect the towns. It turned out that the relief in this area is too demanding for improperly equipped tourists. In order to reduce the number of such accidents, the city authorities introduced a very special rule.
For people who will be seen walking along dangerous paths with light summer footwear, such as, for example flip flops, sandals or even shoes with heel, will be loaded fines in the amount of 50 to 2,500 euros.
Those responsible will launch this year a comprehensive campaign to inform visitors about the importance of suitable equipment for hiking. Penalties will be handed out only after this has been completed.
Patrizio Scarpellini, head of the Cinque Terre National Park, adds that tourists who visit Cinque Terre think that they have come to enjoy the seaside carefree. This is not the case, as the paths above the villages are not similar to coastal paths, but mountain paths.
