A VERY popular destination in Italy has permanently banned tourist coaches.
The announcement comes after a fatal crash in 2023 – but locals aren’t happy about the changes.
The ban will affect villages along the Amalfi Coast where coaches often take tourists up the steep and windy paths.
The two roads that will be under the ban are the SR 373 which connects Ravello to Scala, and the SR 366 linking Agerola to Amalfi.
The new rules have been implemented following a crash in 2023.
The incident was on the SR 373 and resulted in the death of driver when his tourist bus broke through the barrier on a hairpin bend on the road.
Afterwards, the regional government temporarily stopped vehicles heavier than five tons from the road.
Now, the Province of Salerno has signed a total and permanent ban on all these large vehicles – including tourists buses.
The nearby village of Ravello which sits high on a hilltop at over 1,000 feet has since opposed the ban.
For years, coaches have ferried visitors up winding roads to the village, and the ban has not been well-received as it heavily relies on tourism.
Instead, it has asked for road repairs, speed limits and permission for service vehicles and public transit to use the roads.
Talking about the ban, Paolo Vuilleumier, the mayor of Ravello, said: “It is unsustainable and doesn’t take into account the dramatic repercussions it will have on the community.
“Blocking scheduled vehicles means denying the right to mobility to students, workers and residents, as well as decreeing a total halt to international tourism that chooses our destination.”
Ravello is often considered the quieter neighbour to Amalfi and Positano but still sees around three million visitors each year.