ROME — In an effort to address issues related to over-tourism and safeguard the integrity of its world heritage site, the Pompeii archaeological park will implement new visitor restrictions starting next week, officials announced on Friday. The park will limit daily visitors to 20,000 and introduce personalized tickets that include the full names of each guest.

These changes follow a record-breaking summer in which more than 4 million tourists flocked to the ancient ruins of Pompeii, a city that was famously preserved under volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park’s director, noted that the average daily attendance at the site now ranges from 15,000 to 20,000. The introduction of a visitor cap aims to prevent further increases in foot traffic.

Zuchtriegel emphasized the importance of these measures, stating that they will help mitigate the human pressure on the archaeological site, which poses potential risks to both its unique heritage and the safety of visitors.

Starting November 15, tickets will be available to a maximum of 20,000 daily visitors, with scheduled time slots particularly aimed at managing crowds during the peak summer period. To further distribute tourist visits, the management plans to encourage exploration of nearby ancient sites linked to Pompeii as part of the “Greater Pompeii” initiative. This initiative will offer a free shuttle bus service to these connected sites, such as Stabia, Torre Annunziata, and Boscoreale.

Zuchtriegel elaborated on the park’s strategy, highlighting that the combination of crowd management, safety measures, and personalized ticketing aims to foster a tourism experience that is sustainable, enjoyable, and less focused on mass attendance. He described the goal as promoting a more diverse exploration of the cultural treasures surrounding the UNESCO site.