The Donostia City Council has announced that it will start imposing fines on tourist groups that fail to comply with regulations, after a two-year period of warnings and awareness. This measure sets a maximum limit of 25 people per group for guided tours, aiming to improve pedestrian flow in the city's busiest and most tourist-heavy areas.
Until now, the council had only issued warnings based on intervention reports prepared by the Municipal Police, without formalizing any sanctions. However, from now on, fines ranging from 750 to 1,500 euros will be applied to companies or guides who violate the regulation.
“"This direct presence reinforces the preventive and pedagogical nature of the initiative from the beginning of the visit."
An information campaign, which began on Monday, May 13, and will run until May 10, has been launched, targeting guides and leaders of tourist groups. This initiative is primarily focused on Donostia's bus station, one of the main entry points for organized groups. There, information staff provide guides and leaders with details about the regulations, answer questions, and distribute a guide with recommendations for conducting guided tours sustainably and respectfully.
Other key points of the regulation include the prohibition of sound amplification equipment, such as public address systems or microphones, encouraging the use of headphones to reduce noise. Additionally, the operating hours for these services are restricted between 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM. All guides and companies must complete a responsible declaration committing to comply with the conditions. Since the regulation's publication, 259 guides and agencies have registered.
