(CNN) — The Cinque Terre coastline of Italy has an almost mythic status among travelers -- who hasn't seen photographs of the pastel-colored houses built into rugged cliffs, surrounded by bright blue sea, and fallen instantly in love?

In person, the region's even more spectacular -- these five picturesque fishing villages are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason.

But if you travel there this summer with only your flimsy sandals and flip-flops in tow, you might have a bit of a shock.

The Cinque Terre National Park authority is running a public information campaign warning tourists about climbing the cliffs without appropriate footwear.

And if you choose to ignore the advice, you could face fines of between €50 ($56) and €2,500 ($2,826).

It's all because mountain rescue teams are becoming increasingly exasperated with rescuing ill-prepared visitors on the mountainous walkways.

Flip-flop fail

Cinque Terre is a series of colorful fishing villages on the Italian Riviera. Brian Beard/CNN iReport

They'll be posters and flyers advertizing the fines -- and warnings issued online when you purchase a Cinque Terre card, which allows you use of all the connecting park buses and trains and access to the trekking paths.

Currently, the English-language version of the park's website advises hikers to only go on trails which suit their skills -- and to bring sun cream, a hat, hiking boots, food and other supplies.

"These are difficult paths, in some cases, similar to mountain paths," Patrizio Scarpellini, director of the Cinque Terre National Park, tells CNN Travel . "Essential to have proper shoes!"

Scarpellini says the Comandi Regione Carabinieri Forestale -- a law inforcement group -- will work together with those who monitor the trails, to inform visitors of the ban.

"The fines will be high," he adds.

The flip-flop ban is one of a series of moves to accommodate the thousands of visitors who disembark in Cinque Terre in summer.

Hiking in flip-flops is a no-go in Italy's Cinque Terre. Courtesy Pexels

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La Genova Republicca reports that visitors this year between April and October are expected to be up to 750,000 from last year's 450,000.

A lot of these visitors are day-trippers coming from cruise liners.

There's also been discussion about introducing a tourism tax , following on from Venice's decision last month.