Bruges limits tour groups to 20 people to reduce overburdening the inner-city. From March onwards the code of conduct for tour guides in Bruges is being tightened up. The code aims to combat noise pollution and inappropriate behaviour. Existing measures are no longer proving sufficient. Some groups are as large as 70 and that causes a lot of nuisance.
The code of conduct for guides has been in force in Bruges since 2018. The city wants the code to curb touting, noise pollution and inappropriate behaviour.
‘Sometimes there are up to 70 people in one single tour group,’ says Alderman for Tourism Minou Esquenet. 'This causes a lot of nuisance that can potentially lead to conflicts. We want to prevent this by allowing a maximum of 20 participants per guided group. We want to relieve some of the pressure on the city centre, so that large groups of people no longer linger in different places for long periods of time.'
‘I think this is a good idea to maintain the quality of guided tours,’ says guide Jos Teughels. ‘Every day, we see large groups heading through the city. It's not always pleasant for the people visiting the city. A group of 20 people seems ideal to me. Then as a guide you can interact with the group members. Everyone will appreciate that.’
Other changes too
In addition to the maximum number of people per group, there are a few other changes. Sound amplification remains banned, but an obligation to use an audio system with earphones for groups of 25 or more participants has been scrapped. Guides now have the choice of whether or not to use an audio system.
In certain streets guides are also no longer allowed to stop to give an explanation. That’s mainly in busy and narrow streets and on bridges with limited capacity.
‘It seems obvious to us that you cannot stop in these streets and alleys. An explanation can be given elsewhere. We must protect the most beautiful spaces we possess.’
More guides will be needed
More than 3,500 guides from 63 countries are active in Bruges. If groups have to be smaller, more guides will be needed.
‘It will become increasingly difficult to continue to offer all guided tours in various different languages,’ says Jos Teughels. ‘I hope that the measures will encourage local guides to make more of an effort to offer guided tours in other languages. In that way, we can respond to the demands of large travel organisations.’