venice mass tourism problems

Why tourism in Venice is doing more harm than good and what we can do about it

The current state of tourism is hurting venice.

The ever-increasing offering of low-cost travel transportation, housing, and planning has helped the tourism industry to boom in the past decades.

The year 2019 alone counted over 1.5 billion international arrivals.

However, most major stakeholders of the tourism industry focus on profit, not on sustainability.

Today, tourism hotspots are affected by mass tourism – when visitors arrive in masses of tens of thousands of people – and the industry in the most popular destination has turned into a problem, rather than a resource. Venice is one of them, and it is suffering a lot.

Venice residents dropped from 175.000 in 1951 to 50.000 in 2022. Why?

Data shows that the population in Venice has been constantly decreasing for several decades.

Several factors can explain why this is happening:

• An increased cost of living
• Higher cost of housing
• A decrease in quality of life (traditional shops replaced by low-quality souvenir shops, constant, for example)
• Lack of spaces for the youth
• Lack of rewarding job opportunities

All of the above can be linked directly to the impact caused by the dramatic increase in mass tourism in Venice.

Indeed, some local entrepreneurs and several foreign investors exploit this situation to target tourists and generate great profits. Meanwhile, authentic activities and shops have and are being strangled by: ever-increasing rents, a constantly decreasing market size of the local population, and the competition of tourist traps seducing tourists with their cheap mass-produced products or frozen food.

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Venice is a beautiful and unique city that must and can only be preserved by locals, who are the only people with the knowledge (and love) necessary to do so.

This is why one of the biggest threats to the survival of Venice is the disappearance of its citizens.

Without citizens, Venice loses the mastery and the know-how that keeps and kept Venice alive for thousands of years.

Alas, however, younger generations are forced to move out of the historical centre because they can not find rewarding jobs and unaffordable housing, having to give up on their dream of living in their city.

Currenlty, the Venice I.V. (“indice di vecchiaia” or “age index”, which represents the ratio between people over 64 and children under 15) is well above 2,80.

In other words, there are almost 3 people over 64 for every child under 15.

This, coupled with a 35% decrease in the population aged 20 to 34 between 2001 and 2011 (just 10 years!), does not leave much hope for the city.

To give Venice a chance of survival, strong measures must be taken to repopulate the city.

The above trend represents the number of locals and the number of tourists in Venice since 1950.

One of the reasons behind the constant increase of tourism arrivals is the decrease of international transportation.

Since 2015, Venice counts up to 30 million stays every year. And that in a city of fewer than 8 km 2 (or 3 square miles)!

This increase, however, has also been coupled with a decrease in the average length of the stat of tourists and a shift of touristic behaviour that is harming deeply Venetian inhabitants and local businesses.

These changes in tourism and the daily saturation of tourists within the city has led to an invasion of mass-produced souvenir shops and tourist traps, that are putting many local enterprises and artisans’ shops out of business by causing an increase in the cost of living and renting.

The consequences of this are a decrease in life quality and opportunities for the locals, as well as a worsened experience for responsible and caring visitors.

Related: You don’t want to be that tourist, watch out for these common tourist traps in Venice

Why are we speaking of a decrease in quality of life for the inhabitants as well as a decrease in quality of the stay for visitors?

Until the early 2000s, most visitors would come and stay in Venetian hotels for a few nights, taking a few days for exploring the city as a whole, visiting Venice beyond the landmarks, discovering the local life and culture.

In recent years, along with a yearly staggering increase in the number of the visitors, the way of visiting the city has changed: many tourists now come to Venice as a day/hour trip, as part of a cruise, for example, dramatically modifying social, logistic, economic and touristic aspects of the city.

Related: Good or bad? The truth about cruise ships in Venice

A vivid effect of this shift towards day-trips is that the only walkways used by dozens/hundred of thousands are the main streets connecting Piazzale Roma and the Train Station (the arrivals area) with the Rialto Bridge and Saint Mark’s square.

For 11 months a year, Venice assists to an almost daily gigantic human wave arriving in the city and trying to quickly move to and back from the two most known Venetian landmarks, resulting in a total jam.

To make things worse, Venice cannot provide picnic or resting areas because of its small size and its morphology,  resulting in visitors sitting down for resting and eating on bridges, narrow alleys, house doors and shop windows blocking even further the already jammed city.

Even though they are not perceived as such, alleys and bridges in Venice are the equivalent to streets and crossroads in other cities. Blocking them is a guarantee for Venetians to get angry at you.

Related: You asked, We answered: 19 things you might not know about Venice, Italy

Another effect of this approach to visiting the city is the impossibility for day-trippers themselves to take the time to appreciate the city and to understand what is genuine and worth their money, and what is absolutely not.

Foreign investors and investment funds have decided to take advantage of this situation by purchasing shops on the busiest paths to display their cheap/very cheap merchandise, luring in the passing tourists and selling mass-produced plastic goods which, at best, are of no value. At worst, they have been found to be toxic.

One more problem is that Italy has a high unemployment rate but no minimum wage, and these businesses, in particular, exploit the situation even further: employees struggle to live even in Mestre (which has much lower rents), while the company they work for is destroying local and family businesses and artisans’ shops.

Unlock a discount at the best local businesses in Venice

The investment race for selling 99cents souvenirs has led to a spike in the price of shops and rents that forced many genuine local activities, which were not aiming at masses, to try and move to less visited and therefore less expensive areas.

Because of the day-trip approach and the ever-decreasing local population, however, those less-visited areas struggle to have enough customers, leading an ever-increasing number of local activities to close and never to open again.

Related: Interactive Local Map Of Venice, Italy

This lack of opportunities and the negative outlook for young Venetians is leading more and more people to leave the city, well knowing that they will never be able to come back unless the current situation changes.

Are the negative effects of mass tourism in Venice really that bad?

The situation we just described could seem to be a bit too gloomy to you, maybe a result of a pessimistic approach.

The considerations we made, however, are perfectly in line with UNESCO’s last report about the current situation of “Venice and its Lagoon”, which lead the institution to consider putting Venice on the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger list in 2017.

Related: Venice to be or not to be a UNESCO World heritage site, that is the question

Is there any chance for Venice?

We are convinced there is still hope for Venice, of course!

Our strong determination and optimism make us believe it is possible to change this very negative trend and to improve the life of the Venetians, the health of the city, and the quality of the stay of the visitors… but we don’t trust the authorities for making this change happen.

We believe that Venice can prosper again, but only thanks to the people like you and us.

We believe that YOU can make a difference! Travel Responsively, please.

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Make sure to check out the resources below to make the best out of your stay in Venice, while making a positive impact on the local community.

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The Ultimate Travel Guide

Venice Overtourism: How a Small City is Dealing With Mass Tourism

In the heart of the city, St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge have transformed from cultural landmarks to tourist traps, swarming with day trippers who contribute little to the local economy. The small city, once a serene escape, now grapples with the consequences of mass tourism—a term that’s become synonymous with visiting Venice.

But this isn’t just a story of overcrowded plazas and selfie sticks. It’s a narrative that delves into the very fabric of Venice, questioning how a city built on stilts can sustain the weight of its own popularity. From the visitor tax aimed at mitigating the flood of tourists to the more literal floods exacerbated by climate change, Venice is at a tipping point.

So, as we navigate through this intricate issue, we’ll explore the tension between tourism and sustainability, the impact on the local economy, and the ethical considerations of visiting a city that’s sinking under its own fame. Buckle up; it’s going to be a riveting journey.

• What is Causing Venice's Overtourism?
• Overtourism's Toll on Venice

How Venice is Countering Overcrowding

• Venice's Dance with UNESCO and the Failure to Act

Venice Tourist Tax

• Venice's Most Visited Landmarks

How To Visit Venice Responsibly

• Frequently Asked Questions on Venice's Tourists

1. Why is Venice experiencing overtourism?

2. what are the main consequences of overtourism in venice, 3. what steps are being taken to combat overtourism, 4. how can i visit venice responsibly, 5. is it ethical to visit venice given the current overtourism issue, related posts.

What is Causing Venice’s Overtourism?

At its core, Venice overtourism is a tale of excess—a city drowning under the weight of its own popularity. Imagine, if you will, a staggering 20 million souls descending upon this small city each year.

On peak days, the visitor count swells to 120,000, starkly contrasting the mere 55,000 who call Venice home. The irony? Most of these pilgrims are drawn like moths to the flame of iconic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square , further compacting their presence into an already cramped space. The result is a cityscape that’s not just crowded but also crumbling, its infrastructure gasping for air.

But let’s not kid ourselves; this isn’t merely a Venetian tragedy. The same plot unfolds in Barcelona, Reykjavik, and Dubrovnik. The culprits? The unholy trinity of low-cost aviation, mammoth cruise ships, and the rise of home-sharing platforms.

Add to this the phenomenon of the “day tripper”—those who breeze through the city like a whirlwind, barely touching the ground. They’re the ultimate paradox: visitors who don’t really “visit Venice.” They snap a few photos, buy some kitschy souvenirs , and vanish, leaving nary a ripple in the local economy.

And what of those who do linger for a night or two? They’re part of the problem, too. With property prices soaring to stratospheric levels, what could be family homes or affordable rentals are morphing into cash cows for vacation stays. The result? A city where only the well-heeled can afford the luxury of residency.

So, as we peel back the layers of this complex issue, we find a web of contributing factors, each more intricate than the last. It’s a narrative that begs the question: How can Venice reclaim its soul while still extending an open arm to the world?

Overtourism’s Toll on Venice

Imagine being a local Venetian, waking up to the cacophony of rolling suitcases and the incessant clicks of selfie sticks. Your daily commute isn’t just a walk; it’s an obstacle course through throngs of tourists who think it’s cute to swim in canals or have a picnic on ancient bridges. You’re not just navigating streets; you’re navigating a minefield of disrespect. The city you once knew—the city you love—is now a playground for visitors who leave more than just footprints; they leave scars.

But the wounds run deeper than mere inconvenience. The very essence of Venice is being diluted, its artisan spirit eroded by the tidal wave of tourism. Walk into a bar, and the music caters not to the local ear but to the tourist’s playlist. The food, the merchandise, the very air you breathe—it’s all been commodified, repackaged for mass consumption. And what’s left for the locals? A city that’s increasingly inhospitable to its own.

The job market? Forget about it. Unless you’re in the tourism industry, good luck finding work. And so, we arrive at the inevitable outcome: depopulation. Venice, once a bustling city of over 120,000 souls, has dwindled to a mere 55,000. Projections are even grimmer; by 2030, some say, the city could be devoid of full-time residents. Jonathan Keates, chairman of Venice in Peril, warns that if the population dips below 40,000, we’re looking at a city that’s essentially a museum—a relic of its former self.

So, as we wade through the murky waters of Venice overtourism, we’re forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: the city is at risk of losing not just its character but its very lifeblood. And that, my friends, is a tragedy we cannot afford to ignore.

In a move that’s both applauded and criticized, the Italian government swung the hammer in 2017, banning cruise ships weighing over 55,000 tonnes from sailing into St. Mark’s Basin and the Giudecca Canal starting 2021.

The behemoths of the sea will now have to dock their hulking masses in Marghera, a mainland port. It’s a step, albeit a contentious one, toward reclaiming Venice’s fragile waterways. But it’s not just to reduce crowds, banning tourist ships has helped with Venice’s flooding issues .

Then there’s Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, a man walking a tightrope between preservation and public outcry. In 2018, he unveiled a divisive plan to control the human tide flooding Venice’s iconic landmarks.

Imagine this: turnstiles at the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square, diverting tourists like cattle while allowing only locals and business folks to traverse the city’s arterial routes. And if you dare to roll into Venice in your car without pre-booked parking? You might as well U-turn at the Ponta della Liberta. The mayor didn’t stop there; he slapped fines on everything from noisy wheelie suitcases to public picnics.

But not everyone’s singing the mayor’s tune. In a dramatic act of defiance, protesters tore down the newly erected turnstiles, their chants of “Free Venice” echoing through the city’s ancient corridors. Activist Marco Baravalle summed it up: “Venice is dying… The mayor’s turnstiles signify surrender—a Venice devoid of its lifeblood.”

So here we are, at the crossroads of preservation and freedom, each path fraught with its own set of challenges and ethical dilemmas.

Venice’s Dance with UNESCO and the Failure to Act

Overtourism in Venice isn’t yesterday’s news; it’s a haunting refrain that’s been echoing for years. UNESCO, the global guardian of heritage, has been sounding the alarm bells since 2014. They gave Italy a two-year ultimatum to get its act together, demanding a sustainable tourism strategy and a coordinated approach to preserve Venice’s ‘outstanding universal value.’ Fast forward to 2017, and the city found itself teetering on the edge of UNESCO’s ‘sites in danger’ list—a fate deferred, but not dismissed, until 2018.

The inertia is maddening, to say the least. Just ask Justin Francis, CEO of Responsible Travel, who can barely contain his exasperation: “How did we get here? How did this jewel of a city end up on the brink?” For years, Venice has been unable to stem the tide of tourists pouring in from cruise ships and Airbnb rentals. The result? A city divided, its social fabric torn between residents and visitors. “Venice has been reduced to a theme park,” Francis laments. “Tourism should be a bridge, not a wall. It should unite locals and tourists in a symbiotic relationship, not segregate them.”

So, as the sands of time slip through our fingers, we’re left grappling with a Venice that’s at a critical juncture. The question isn’t just how to save the city, but how to restore its soul in a way that honors both its residents and its global admirers.

The Venice Tourist Tax is a fee that visitors must pay to enter the city. Initially planned to be implemented in January 2022, the tax has been postponed multiple times and is now expected to be in effect by at least 2024. The tax will range from 3 to 10 euros, depending on the tourist flow on a given day.

The tax aims to control the number of visitors and better manage the city’s resources. The tax will not apply to those staying in hotels within Venice, as they already pay a local city tax. Various exemptions are in place, including for residents, students, and those in Venice for official business. Fines for non-compliance will range from 100 to 450 euros.

Update 09.13.2023:

Venice’s city council has approved the daytime tax for visitors. Starting in 2024, day visitors will be required to pay 5 euros ($5.38) to visit the city.

This tax will be in effect for 30 non-consecutive days, primarily during long weekends in the spring and regular weekends in the summer. The exact dates will be announced soon.

The tax is aimed at protecting Venice from the detrimental effects of mass tourism. Overnight travelers are exempt from this tax but are subject to a separate tourist tax introduced in 2011. The overnight travelers tax ranges from 1 to 5 euros per person per night for the first five nights.

The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has stated that this tax is an experiment to manage overtourism without causing harm.

#ConsiglioComunale | Approvato il Regolamento per il contributo d’accesso per i turisti giornalieri! Faremo una sperimentazione con grande umiltà e cercheremo di non danneggiare nessuno. È una delle azioni che abbiamo messo in campo per proteggere la Città del turismo di… pic.twitter.com/LJ9iSqmT9d — Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) September 12, 2023

Venice’s Most Visited Landmarks

• St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) : The grand living room of Venice, a must-see that’s often the first stop for any visitor.
• St. Mark’s Basilica : An architectural marvel that is a testament to Venice’s opulence and Byzantine influences.
• Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) : A symbol of the city’s former maritime might and political prowess.
• Rialto Bridge : The oldest and most iconic bridge spanning the Grand Canal, a bustling hub of commerce and photography.
• Grand Canal : Venice’s main waterway, best experienced by vaporetto or a romantic gondola ride.
• Bridge of Sighs : A baroque beauty with a melancholic history, connecting the Doge’s Palace to the old prisons.
• Santa Maria della Salute : A stunning baroque church that dominates the Venetian skyline.
• Gallerie dell’Accademia : Home to an impressive collection of Venetian art from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
• Murano Island : Famous for its centuries-old tradition of glassmaking.
• Burano Island : Known for its colorful houses and intricate lacework.
• Lido : Venice’s beach, a break from the city’s labyrinthine canals and narrow streets.
• Teatro La Fenice : One of the most famous opera houses in Italy, a phoenix risen from the ashes—literally.
• Scuola Grande di San Rocco : A masterpiece of Tintoretto, showcasing some of his finest works.
• Jewish Ghetto : The world’s first ghetto, a poignant reminder of Venice’s complex history.

• Off-Peak Visits : Consider visiting Venice during the shoulder seasons. Fewer crowds mean a more authentic experience and less strain on local resources.
• Stay Local : Opt for locally-owned accommodations over large hotel chains or Airbnb rentals that drive up property prices for residents.
• Spend Wisely : Invest in the local economy by dining at local restaurants, shopping at local markets, and hiring local guides.
• Mindful Movement : Avoid cruise ships and consider arriving by train or eco-friendly modes of transport. Once there, walk or use public vaporettos rather than private water taxis.
• Cultural Respect : Learn a few basic phrases in Italian, understand local customs, and respect public spaces. No picnicking on bridges or swimming in canals, please.
• Low-Impact Exploration : Stick to the less-trodden paths. Visit lesser-known landmarks and neighborhoods to spread the tourist load.
• Sustainable Souvenirs : Buy locally-made crafts and products rather than mass-produced trinkets. Murano glass or Burano lace, anyone?
• Leave No Trace : Dispose of your waste properly. Venice has a fragile ecosystem that’s easily disrupted by litter.
• Educate Yourself : Before you go, read up on Venice’s history, culture, and the challenges it faces. Knowledge is the first step toward empathy and responsible action.
• Advocate and Share : Use your social media platforms to educate others about responsible travel. Your influence can make a difference.
• Support Local Initiatives : Contribute to local organizations working to preserve Venice’s cultural and natural heritage.
• Be Mindful of Photography : Respect people’s privacy and property when taking photos. Not everything needs to be Instagrammed.

For more information, read our guide to the best times to visit Venice .

Frequently Asked Questions on Venice’s Tourists

Venice is a victim of its own allure—a city so captivating that it draws millions each year. The rise of low-cost airlines, cruise ships, and home-sharing platforms like Airbnb have made it easier than ever to “visit Venice,” exacerbating the problem. The city’s small size and fragile ecosystem make it particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of mass tourism.

The repercussions are manifold, affecting both the physical city and its community. Landmarks like St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge are overcrowded, leading to wear and tear. The local economy is skewed towards tourism, making it hard for residents to find non-tourism jobs. This has led to depopulation, as locals move away in search of better opportunities.

Various measures have been implemented, such as banning large cruise ships from certain canals and introducing visitor taxes. The Mayor has also proposed controlling access to popular sites and fining inappropriate behavior. However, these steps have been met with mixed reactions, and the effectiveness remains to be seen.

Being a responsible traveler involves making conscious choices. Visit during off-peak seasons, stay in locally-owned accommodations, and spend your money at local businesses. Be respectful of the city’s cultural heritage and natural environment. Educate yourself about the issues Venice faces and consider how your actions can either contribute to the problem or be part of the solution.

This is a complex question with no easy answer. On one hand, tourism is a significant part of Venice’s economy. On the other, the city is clearly struggling under the weight of its own popularity. The key is to visit in a way that minimizes your negative impact and maximizes your positive contributions to the local community and environment.

As we navigate the labyrinthine canals and complexities of Venice overtourism, it’s clear that the city stands at a critical juncture. The choices we make today—as travelers, as policymakers, as global citizens—will echo through the annals of Venice’s history. But let’s not forget, Venice isn’t just a city; it’s a living, breathing entity that embodies the collective memory and dreams of humanity. It’s a place that deserves not just our admiration but also our utmost respect and care. So, as you ponder your next journey, consider how you can be a part of Venice’s preservation, not its downfall. The city’s future, in many ways, is in our hands. We invite you to join this crucial conversation. What are your thoughts on overtourism in Venice? How can we, as a global community, contribute to the city’s sustainability? Share your insights, experiences, and suggestions in the comments below. Let’s come together to write the next chapter in Venice’s storied history—a chapter that speaks of revival, respect, and responsible travel.

Venice Flooding: Why Is Venice Sinking?

Venice faces rising sea tides that could destroy this ancient city. Learn about the causes of the flooding, what Venice is doing to stop it, and more.

Venice Alternatives Around the World

As you plan your next trip abroad, consider these cities as Venice alternatives. Each location offers a unique take on Venetian romance and wonder. Read more.

About Todd O'Rourke

Todd is an award-winning writer and filmmaker who co-founded Compass and Pine with his dog Leg. Together, they have traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, with their base of operations in Philadelphia.

He started Compass and Pine after living in Vicenza, Italy for three years and falling deeply in love with the country, the people, and, of course, the food.

His favorite city is Florence, Italy, and his favorite National Park is Olympic in Washington.

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Venice against overtourism: new measures from summer 2022

Access to the city through turnstiles is back. These will be tested as early as this September and will be in operation from next summer: tourists will have to book and pay a fee to enter the city.

Venice and the overtourism issue

Overtourism has been defined by the World Tourism Organization as "the impact of tourism on a destination, or parts thereof, that excessively influences perceived quality of life of citizens and/or quality of visitor experiences in a negative way". Venice has always been decreed as the world capital of mass tourism, with a ratio of 370 visitors per year for every resident in the historic centre: an unsustainable figure. As early as 2019, the administration had set out to put in place restrictive measures to improve the city's situation, trying to aim for more sustainable tourism. Because of Covid, the measures were postponed until now, as the city had remained semi-deserted during lockdown periods. 

Thanks to the stop of the large cruise ships, the city has averted, for the third time, its inclusion in UNESCO's black list of endangered world heritage sites , but to make tourism in Venice more sustainable, it is necessary, unfortunately, to implement further measures and restrictions. Venice is such a beautiful city but just as fragile, and with the advent of Covid the problem of crowds in the city's narrow streets and near the main sights is even more pronounced. When the new measures come into force next summer, it is hoped to put an end to this problem, thus distributing arrivals in the city fairly throughout the year. But let's look at these new rules in detail.

Venice and the new measures to regulate the arrivals

During this summer of opening, after periods of lockdown, Venice was flooded with tourists, with estimates of as many as 80,000 visits a day. The problem of overtourism, combined with the impossibility of allowing crowds to gather in the city's narrow calli due to Covid, has made the strategy of limiting access to the city popular again. 

 From summer 2022, the local government has decided to implement "active" management of tourist flows, based on an access fee and electronic turnstiles. A strategy that has only been tested in the last few pre-covid seasons and whose entry into force has already been postponed twice. According to local newspaper reports, the system will involve gates located at the city's access points, delimited by high-tech turnstiles, to which you only need to place near your mobile phone to enter. In fact, the turnstiles will be accompanied by an app that will allow you to book your visit, paying the access fee, which will vary from 3 to 10 euros depending on the period chosen.

Residents, commuters and a number of other categories, that will be defined shortly, will be exempt from payment. The inhabitants of the Veneto region will not have to pay for access to the city, but will still have to book their visit. The first test turnstiles could be positioned at Tronchetto to be tested by the city's employees. The hypothesis is that they will eventually be positioned at the railway station, at Piazzale Roma and at the tourist launch terminal.

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Venice’s Overtourism Threatens Its World Heritage Status

August 1st, 2023 at 1:18 AM EDT

Italian tourism boards, airlines, hotels, and tour operators need to be vocal to save the lagoon city from potential climate risks before it's too late.

Amrita Ghosh

UNESCO experts have recommended that Venice and its lagoon be added to its list of World Heritage in Danger as Italy is not doing enough to protect the city from the impact of climate change and mass tourism.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre experts regularly review the state of the UN cultural agency’s 1,157 World Heritage sites, and at a meeting in Riyadh in September, a committee of 21 UNESCO member states will review more than 200 sites and decide which to add to the danger list.

For nearly 10 of these sites, the experts recommend that member states put them on the danger list, among which already are the historic center of Odessa, Ukraine, the town of Timbuktu in Mali, and several sites in Syria, Iraq and Libya.

Other sites recommended to be put on the danger list this year are the cities of Kyiv and Lviv in Ukraine.

“Resolution of long-standing but urgent issues is hindered by a lack of overall joint strategic vision for the long-term preservation of the property and low effectiveness of integrated coordinated management at all stakeholder levels,” UNESCO said.

UNESCO said corrective measures proposed by the Italian state are “currently insufficient and not detailed enough.” It added that Italy “has not been communicating in a sustained and substantive manner since its last Committee session in 2021, when UNESCO had already threatened to blacklist Venice .

The agency said it hoped that “such inscription will result in greater dedication and mobilization” of local and national stakeholders to address long-standing issues.

A spokesperson for the Venice municipality told Reuters the city “will carefully read the proposed decision published today by the Center for UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee and will discuss it with the government.”

Venice, known for its canals and cultural sites, has been struggling with mass tourism for years. On a single day during the 2019 Carnival, some 193,000 people squeezed into the historic center. Venice has been preparing to introduce a fee for day-trippers to control visitor numbers, but has been delayed by objections.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq and Augustin Turpin in Paris, Federica Urso in Rome; Editing by Leslie Adler)

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This article was from Reuters and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive Content Marketplace . Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected] .

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Tags: heritage , tourism , unesco , venice

Photo credit: Venice, known for its canals and cultural sites, has been struggling with mass tourism for years. Reuters

A tale of 2 cities: Venice residents torn between mass tourism and a more harmonious existence

Covid-19 made it clear 'la serenissima' needs to diversify its battered economy.

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Francesco Penzo stands straddling a sandolo , a low boat Venetians once used for shooting ducks. He manoeuvres a long paddle deep into the water, steering the vessel around the corner of a canal in the former working-class neighbourhood of Cannaregio, the only sound the creaking of wood and birdsong echoing above.

Cannaregio is one of the few areas in Venice that had not been overtaken by tourists and souvenir shops before the devastating "acqua alta" flooding in November, followed by the coronavirus quarantine in March that locked down Italy for more than two months.

Yet as we glide past a row of gorgeously crumbling palazzi, Penzo points out a small brick building ahead that he says encapsulates the real crisis his city faces: not COVID-19 but what COVID-19 has made painfully clear.

"That's where I live," says the housing activist, who works in the insurance business for his day job. "Of the 10 apartments in there, four are Airbnbs, four are second homes and only two have people actually living in them."

Without tourists, in other words, there is hardly anyone left in Venice.

WATCH | The sights and sounds of a Venice canal:

Italy's Venice could find a future in its past

It wasn't always this way.

In the 1970s, upwards of 150,000 people resided in the lagoon city. Today, it's home to just over 50,000, with the population shrinking by 1,000 each year — half from older people dying, half from people leaving due to soaring housing costs and lack of job opportunities.

A massive flood in 1966 triggered the initial exodus, with Venetians fleeing to the nearby mainland city of Mestre, part of the Venice municipality, and staying. Former residents began converting their Venice homes into short-term rentals and hotels; the advent of low-cost airlines and Airbnb did the rest.

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"When I grew up here, Venice was crowded, but crowded with Venetians," says Aline Cedron, an editor raising two teenagers in Cannaregio. Cedron is one of 3,000 members of Gruppo 25 Aprile, the latest incarnation of various citizens' groups that have been trying for several decades to return Venice from being what they call a 15th-century theme park to the vibrant, lived-in city it once was.

'A different way of life'

Here in Cannaregio, for a moment, you can almost believe the city is alive and well. We stroll through a lush, walled park with children scrambling up slides, then past a square with elderly residents chatting amiably on benches as kids kick a ball against a wall.

It's hard not to feel a pang of envy to see how relaxed urban life can be — not only without tourists, but without the noise, exhaust and danger of cars. Neighbours congregate at the end of the day in local cafés for bright orange spritzes, the Venetian cocktail now popular around the world. Crime throughout the whole lagoon city is practically non-existent.

"Venice is an example of such a different way of life for the entire world, and in my experience, a high quality of life. Having to walk everywhere, you are constantly meeting people, and the social aspect of this life is very, very precious," Cedron says.

Precious, but with a mono-economy of mass tourism that is perilously lacking in resilience, say even those who depend on that economy.

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Across Venice's once highly trafficked thoroughfare, the Canal Grande, master gondola maker Lorenzo Della Toffola bangs nails along the reddish bottom of a gleaming black boat resting on its side in his squero , one of the few traditional boatyards in Venice that remain. His son Alberto, in his late 20s and the only offspring apprentice in Venice's boatyards, works on another gondola inside a long shed.

Business has been slow, with gondolier owners waiting for customers to return before bringing their boats in for annual repairs. Despite his reduced income, though, Della Toffola says the post-quarantine period is a historic occasion for Venice to shift course.

"Let's hope this time people get it," he says. "That we just can't go on with the old number of tourists. We need local artisans, who make the city healthier, realer and don't have anything to do with all the [tourist] junk ... sold on the streets. We need Venetians to return, bakers and butchers. You just can't have a city based only on tourism."

Groups seek diversified economy

Upwards of 25 million tourists, mostly day trippers, pour over Venice's walkways, bridges and campi  — small squares — each year. Despite efforts by activist groups to ban cruise ships, the mammoth vessels still loomed in the backdrop until the coronavirus lockdown.

"We want a tourism that is more aware," says Laura Scarpa, vice-president of Venezia da Vivere, a network that promotes Venetian artisans, artists and fashion designers. "We want people to visit with intentionality, to get to know our history and artisanal traditions and not just come to stand in Piazza San Marco and take a selfie."

Scarpa's group and most others like it say diversification of the city's economy is the only way forward. Venezia da Vivere has launched a debate asking residents to "rewrite" the future of Venice, posting interviews with residents who have ideas for sustainable alternatives to tourism and incentives for residency.

Many would like to see environmental studies become a cornerstone of Venice's Ca' Foscari university, given how vulnerable the city is to rising ocean levels brought on by climate change. They want to improve wireless connectivity to encourage people who work remotely to live here.

They're pushing for tax and housing incentives for its craftspeople and artists, who, they say, not only represent a continuum with the city's past of textile, lace-making and glassworks, but who could lead the way in recreating vibrant and mixed urban spaces where people both work and live.

It's a vision, they say, that all levels of government have failed to provide. They point out that Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and most city councillors reside in the mainland Mestre, not in Venice proper. As a result, they believe, the administration tends to view the lagoon city as a money-making operation, rather than an actual community.

It's a depiction Paola Mar, the energetic city councillor responsible for tourism who also lives in Mestre, refutes. She insists the municipal government does have ideas on how to move away from mass tourism — in place even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

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She cites a program encouraging "slow tourism," charging a fee to day trippers, brochures promoting decorum that urge tourists not to litter and loiter — an issue also championed by past mayors — and the installation earlier this year of sensors at the city's various entrances to count the numbers of visitors and better control the influx.

"It's beautiful but disturbing," Mar says of the now-empty Venice. "Tourism is the most important industry ... but we need to do more to help young people afford to live here."

To that end, post-lockdown, Venice has struck a deal with the university for the vacant Airbnbs to be rented to students. It is also encouraging tourist shops to convert to corner stores, bakeries and fruit stands, now sorely missing, for residents. And it is moving forward with assigning 360 newly renovated subsidized municipal apartments to young families.

But critics call the initiatives a drop in the bucket and say that renting to students until tourists return mostly helps Airbnbs — many of which are owned by large companies with no real stake in the city.

Venice faces existential questions

What is striking, though, when listening to city authorities and citizens wanting change, is how similar their message is: in a nutshell, the need for Venice's tourism to move from "mass to class."

But others say even that is cause for caution.

In a recent blog post entitled "Which residents?" urban thinker Paola Somma questions both the emphasis on "quality" tourism and attracting a "new creative class" — the kind of people who attend the Venice Biennale, a showcase of cinema, art, architecture, theatre and dance. She suggests the phrases are merely code for attracting millionaires and celebrities at the expense of working people.

Venice is not so much an empty tourist city as a "hedge city," Somma argues, its centuries-old structures not vacant but stuffed with investment dollars by the world's wealthy. 

As Venice's mayor tells residents protesting over tourism or cruise ships to "go live somewhere else," he publicly fetes people like actor Emma Thompson as new "Venetian citizens" after they purchase property here.

"When we talk about repopulating Venice, are we talking about a mix of activities and class of people that characterized the city 50 years ago, or are we talking about anyone who has money and is willing to register as a resident?" Somma asks.

How to save this exquisitely moribund city is hardly a new question. But with the COVID-19 pandemic — along with the chance to move through quiet canals, to hear Venetian accents ring purely through the air and to gaze, unobstructed, upon works by Renaissance masters Tintoretto or Titian — these nagging existential questions have been laid bare as never before.

Many citizens say they will do all they can to seize this moment and to stop "La Serenissima" from returning to its "old normal."

But they also say the risk has never been greater, either.

"It's true this is an opportunity for Venice," says Francesco Penzo, steering the sandolo toward the open, uncluttered waters of the Canal Grande.

"But this crisis could be used to justify not just a return to mass tourism, but to even more mass tourism. Real transformation never comes with a shock but with a plan. And Venice doesn't have one."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rome correspondent

Megan Williams has been covering all things Italian, from politics and the Vatican, to food and culture, to the plight of migrants in the Mediterranean, for more than two decades. Based in Rome, Megan has also told stories from other parts of Europe and the world and won many international prizes for her reporting, including a James Beard Award. Her radio documentaries can be heard on Ideas and The Current. Megan is also a regular guest host on CBC national radio shows.

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How Venice Is Retackling Overtourism After a Year Without Visitors

By Jackie Caradonio

In May, at the opening of the rescheduled Venice Biennale of Architecture—pandemic edition—banners hung from every doorway in the Arsenal emblazoned with the question “How will we live together?,” the theme of this year's show. As I explored photographer Marco Cappelletti's hauntingly beautiful City to Dust, a collection of images depicting an empty Palazzo San Marco and a shuttered Rialto Bridge, every step I took made an unsettling crunch. The floor was constructed of terrazzo tiles in the shape of Venice , suggesting the damage crowds do to the city. “Because the tourists trample her soul...” the narrator of an accompanying video stated grimly. “Every single step is, for every single visitor, a physical confrontation with his or her potentially harmful impact on the environment.”

Bemoaning the perils of Venice—the cruise ships and dwindling population; the fact that it's more a theme park than a place where people live and thrive; and, don't forget, it's sinking!—is nothing new. Observers have lamented the city's overexposure since at least 1909, when Henry James wrote in Italian Hours, “The Venice of today is a vast museum...and you march through the institution with a herd of fellow-gazers. There is nothing left to discover or describe....” But this was hardly the Venice I encountered when my architect-husband, John, and I arrived a few weeks before the Biennale—when tourism was still banned in Italy —to build an installation for the exhibition. What we found was a city grappling with how to move forward with the world paused.

All those quiet days and empty streets gave Venetians precious time to ponder real-life solutions to their overtourism problem. The government has attempted for years to alleviate the issue, passing measures from installing turnstiles to keep a head count to taxing day-trippers , but some of the biggest initiatives in decades gained traction while the city was in lockdown. In March, the government decreed that it would ban cruise ships weighing more than 40,000 tons from the Venetian lagoon. That same month, the mayors of Venice and Florence teamed up on a manifesto demanding that the Italian government impose tighter restrictions on the thousands of short-term rentals contributing to the cities' housing crisis. And following pressure from local activist groups, Venice mayor Luigi Brugnero recently announced his administration is working on a booking system that will establish quotas on tourist access to the city's historical center.

Piazza San Marco, on a morning during lockdown

“It feels a bit like the beginning of a new era,” says Valeria Duflot, cofounder of the Venice-based think tank Overtourism Solution. “The crisis catapulted tourism to the top of the political agenda, providing a historic opportunity to transform the industry at the root.” For Venice, that transformation will come when the old extractive tourism model—in which travelers focus solely on what they can take away from a destination—is replaced with a regenerative model that also helps sustain local communities. Duflot is helping to nudge that shift through her website Venezia Autentica , which provides a veritable how-to guide to conscientious tourism, listing locally owned businesses and certified tour guides, and suggesting itineraries that take travelers off the beaten track by showcasing places like the neoclassical Museo Correr and artisan workshops making authentic Carnival masks. “The return of tourism at the level it used to be is expected for 2024,” Duflot says, “and we aim by then to have created a dynamic of transformation that renders going back to the old normal obsolete.”

The great COVID-19 reset also underpinned the need not just for fewer tourists but for more Venetians. “The pandemic made absolutely clear the total dependence on tourism to survive,” says Fabio Carrera, a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Massachusetts, who teaches part-time in Venice and for 30 years has studied solutions to improve local life through his WPI Venice Project Center. “The real problem is not tourism—it's that there are no alternatives to tourism.” At least half the working population is in travel, giving the industry outsize power over everything from the types of businesses that survive (souvenir shops, not grocery stores) to the funding of public transportation (which runs more regularly to tourist locales). Carrera argues that developing tech and other entrepreneurial industries independent of tourism will create a more livable Venice—and a more attractive home base for new residents. To that end, this fall, his incubator on the island of Giudecca, across from San Marco, will launch a new partnership with MIT that aims to help Venetian start-ups get off the ground.

Of course, Venice can't be fixed overnight. Both Carrera and Duflot say their missions are focused on the long term. “It's going to take 10, 20, maybe 30 years to get where we want to be,” Carrera says. This became especially obvious on June 3, when the first cruise ship in more than a year sailed past Piazza San Marco. Soon after, in response to UNESCO advisers' recommendation that the organization list Venice as an endangered site, the Italian government said it would begin enforcing its ban on August 1, also lowering the weight limit to 25,000 tons.

On our last night in Venice, the city was quiet, save for a few Biennale-goers, as John and I sat at our usual table at La Zucca, a neighborhood spot that seemed to draw enough locals to remain busy even without tourists. I watched an older couple to my left order without looking at the menu. But it was the table of four to my right that was interested in us. When we told them we were American, their disappointment was palpable. I knew they'd already begun to miss their hushed little city.

I wanted to tell them that over the past three weeks, John and I had slowly soaked in Venice rather than gulping it all up in a day like most tourists. We'd become regulars at restaurants owned by locals and skipped many of the standard attractions for visits to family-run squeri, or boatyards on the lagoon. Instead, though, I just raised my glass.

“To Venice!” I said earnestly.

“To Venice,” they echoed back.

This article appeared in the September/October 2021 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here .

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Unesco recommends putting Venice on heritage danger list

UN agency says Italian city faces ‘irreversible’ damage from effects of climate crisis and tourism

Venice risks being placed on the Unesco world heritage site blacklist unless the Italian authorities do more to protect the fragile city.

The United Nations cultural agency has recommended that Venice be added to the heritage danger list, saying in a statement on Monday that the city faced “irreversible” damage due to a litany of problems ranging from the effects of climate breakdown to mass tourism.

It is the second time within the space of a few years that Venice, which was inscribed on the world heritage site list in 1987, has been threatened with the blacklist.

Unesco said in a statement: “The effects of the continuing deterioration due to human intervention, including continuing development, the impacts of climate change and mass tourism threaten to cause irreversible changes to the outstanding universal value of the property.

“Moreover, the combined effects of human-induced and natural changes are causing deterioration and damage to build structures and urban areas.”

Unesco noted a “lack of significant progress” by Italy in addressing the issues, saying that improvements had been further “hindered by a lack of overall joint strategic thinking”.

The recommendation will be put to a meeting of Unesco’s world heritage committee in Riyadh in late September for adoption.

The Venetian authorities said they would carefully read the recommendation and speak to the Italian government, “which is the state party with which Unesco relates”.

The recommendation has been made despite Italy fulfilling a request from Unesco in 2021 to ban cruise ships weighing more than 25,000 tonnes from docking in the lagoon. The vessels now dock at the industrial port of Marghera. A spokesperson for the Venice mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, said: “They no longer pass by St Mark’s Square.” The ban followed years of protests against big ships.

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Venice’s flood barrier , Mose, finally entered operation in 2020 after years of delay, prompted by severe flooding in the city in late 2019.

Unesco said the measures proposed by Italy to tackle the “complex issues” in Venice were “still insufficient and need to be further developed”.

After the 2019 flooding and the pandemic disrupted tourism in Venice, visitors are back in full force. The myriad issues have driven away the city’s inhabitants, with the population in the historic centre dipping below 50,000 last summer, leading the remaining residents to fear becoming “relics in a museum”.

• Climate crisis
• United Nations

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Venice Keeps Off List of Endangered World Sites

The fragile Italian city has taken steps to reduce the impacts of climate change and excessive tourism, but some experts said the moves were not enough.

By Elisabetta Povoledo

Reporting from Rome

Venice will not be included on UNESCO’s list of “World Heritage in Danger” after a panel voted on Thursday to reject the recommendation of experts at the agency who had raised concerns that Italy had not done enough to protect the fragile city, which is threatened by climate change, mass tourism and development.

Still, representatives of countries upholding the World Heritage Convention, which seeks to protect and preserve cultural sites, said in a statement that “further progress still needs to be made” to properly conserve Venice. During a debate on Thursday afternoon at a World Heritage Committee session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, several delegates said Italy should host a new advisory mission in Venice in the coming months to monitor the efficacy of the measures that Italy has taken so far and to make suggestions.

“Venice is not at risk,” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on social media Thursday evening, describing the result as a “great victory.” Posting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, he added : “The world has understood all the work we have done to save our city.”

Italy was warned in July that Venice, a World Heritage Site since 1987, was being considered for UNESCO’s “in danger” list, even though the state and city have made significant changes to try to protect Venice.

Large cruise ships have been banned from entering Venetian waters. Massive barriers at the mouths of the lagoon hold seawater at bay and stop high tides from flooding the city. And officials have begun tracking tourists via their cellphone data to monitor their movements.

This week, City Council voted that, starting next year, day-trippers to Venice will be expected to pay 5 euros on days when the city is extremely crowded with tourists. City officials hope that the measure will curb some of the millions of tourists who throng to the city each year — five million so far in 2023. Those who stay overnight won’t be charged.

Venice almost made the danger list in 2021, but then, too, member countries rejected the proposal.

Despite the changes in Venice, UNESCO experts who have been closely monitoring the city felt that Italy and the local government had not done enough. Once a site is placed on the danger list, it can lose its World Heritage status, which acknowledges its outstanding universal value .

But the 21 member states thought Italy’s efforts were to be commended, and several said that it was “premature” to put Venice on the list. Several pointed out that climate change was a global issue, affecting many cultural heritage sites, and said Italy should not be singled out.

Some citizen groups had hoped that the city would be recognized as endangered. Nearly 5,000 people signed a petition addressed to the UNESCO general director, Audrey Azoulay, on Change.org, asking that Venice be on the list, because of the problems caused by excessive tourism. “The out-of-control tourism machine makes big financial gains for few, against the common good and those who want to live in the city,” the petition said.

In his report to the session on Thursday, Nicholas Clarke, an expert with the International Council on Monuments and Sites, which advises UNESCO on World Heritage sites and had urged putting Venice on the list, said that efforts to tackle heavy tourism “come very late and more urgent action is required.”

For years, visitors to Venice have easily outnumbered the residents of the historic city center , the number of which dropped a year ago to under 50,000 from nearly 175,000 in 1951.

Speaking before the vote Thursday, Berta de Sancristobal of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, which had called for the city to be listed as in danger, cited “the negative impacts of mass tourism reflected in the continued decline in local residents, leading to the alteration of the spirit of place and the loss of historic authenticity.”

Last week, a local group announced that the number of beds for visitors had surpassed those for residents.

The aim of the UNESCO list , which includes 55 endangered sites like the Old City of Jerusalem and Timbuktu, is to spur conservation, according to the agency. When a site is on the list, the United Nations commits to develop a corrective plan alongside national authorities and to monitor the results.

Matteo Secchi of the citizens’ group Venessia.com said that locals did not need UNESCO to tell them what was wrong with the city, even though a spotlight on the problems was welcome if it made the world take notice.

“We are only trying to carry on our culture, our life, and we see that it’s in danger. That’s why we get mad, why we make appeals to the world,” he said, adding of the tourists: “They’re not happy, we’re not happy, everyone isn’t happy.”

Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome and has been writing about Italy for more than three decades. More about Elisabetta Povoledo

Watch CBS News

Famed Italian city suffering from too much of a good thing

December 9, 2016 / 1:21 PM EST / CBS News

VENICE, Italy -- There are more tourists than residents in Venice; as many as 90-thousand people visit the city every day .

As CBS News correspondent Seth Doane reports, the “tourist problem” has gotten so bad in Venice that UNESCO -- the UN’s cultural body -- has threatened to put the city on a list of “world heritage sites in danger.”

It has given Italy two years to deal with the problem, but so far there are no solutions in sight.

The unique charm of Venice makes it a popular destination for many travellers. Its idyllic, narrow canals and quaint alleys draw more than 20 million tourists a year -- and there lies the problem.

Ecologist Jane Da Mosto says Venice’s famed lagoon is vulnerable.

“It’s too small, it’s too fragile… and we can’t look after the people that think they are coming to a theme park.”

As a resident of Venice, she worries that her city is becoming merely a backdrop for selfies.

While the number of visitors has grown rapidly, the local population is dwindling. In 1951 there were nearly 170,000 residents in the Italian city. Today there are fewer than 55,000.

Venetians have staged a demonstration against the forever-rising tourism. The protestors carried luggage as a symbol that they were on their way out.

“We have to find a way to protect the Venetian life,” Mateo Secchi, one of the organisers of the protest, told CBS News, “because a city without citizens is a city without a soul – it’s like Disneyland.”

Despite working in a hotel, Secchi says mass tourism is “a double-cut weapon because in the beginning you earn a lot of money and everybody is happy, but in the long distance it’s big trouble.”

The most obvious signs of the tourists’ outsized impact on the small city are the huge cruise ships that arrive daily and dwarf the lagoon.

Paolo Costa, the President of the Port Authority says the cruise ships are simply a scape goat.

“Everybody thinks that there is a big ship coming in from nowhere -- with a flood of tourists and they are flooding the city -- this is not absolutely true,” he says.

Cruises account for fewer than 10 percent of tourists that travel to Venice. Instead, the fault appears to lie with the three-quarters of tourists who spend just a day in the city. These “day-trippers” travel to the famous city but rarely contribute to the local economy.

Deputy Mayor of Tourism Paola Mar describes tourism as “the city’s most important resource,” but admits that something must be done to address the “25 years of mismanagement” that have led to this crisis.

They are currently evaluating more than 15 proposals to tackle the problem, including increasing taxes on tourists or gating-off and selling tickets to busy areas such as Piazza San Marco.

The size and geography of Venice make it vulnerable to the global crush of tourism.

The city will have to find innovative ways to tackle the problem if it is to avoid the label of “world heritage site in danger.”

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