Visitors caught snacking, sunbathing or taking a dip in Venice's canals risk being kicked out of the city and banned from returning, under the latest rules aimed at reining in disruptive tourists. The lagoon city reserves the right to punish ill-mannered visitors the same way that police tackle football hooligans: with an order that bans them from returning to the scene of their offence.

There will also be fines of up to €500 for anyone who "dirties public places in any way". The new regulations, approved by the city council last week, apply to all Unesco-protected areas of Venice, which includes the historic centre, the lagoon and all its islands. They are also in effect at Venice airport, train station and passenger port, at piers and on public transport.