Venice: too many tourists for fed up locals

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Overtourism in Venice: city will segregate tourists and locals this summer



The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has announced the latest measures aimed at controlling visitor numbers to the frequently-overrun Italian city, which can see up to 120,000 tourists more than double its 55,000 population on busy days. Record numbers are expected over the May Day bank holiday weekend, fueled by the rapid growth of low-cost aviation, the cruise industry, peer-to-peer home-sharing platforms and the Chinese tourism market. Huge numbers were seen at February’s Carnival and over the Easter holiday. Overtourism in Venice has led to crisis talks in recent years and angry protests from locals. The latest city announcement will see access to popular sites such as Rialto and San Marco segregated if crowds create a log-jam, so that tourists are diverted to alternative routes leaving the main thoroughfares for locals and business-people. In addition, tourists who drive over the Ponta della Liberta from the mainland could be turned away if they have not pre-booked parking.

A number of tourism controls for the lagoon city have been put forward in recent years, including limiting cruise ship arrivals and banning vessels over 55,000 tonnes from St Mark’s Basin and the Giudecca Canal, which will come into effect in 2021. The city’s controversial mayor also authorised implementing €500 fines for noisy, wheeled suitcases being dragged through the historic centre, as well as fines for littering and loitering on bridges, swimming in canals, wearing swimwear while sightseeing and picnicking in public areas. Automated people-counters have also been trialed in busy areas, to discourage visitors from overwhelming them at peak times.

Venice’s dwindling population took to the streets last summer to protest about the damaging effects of tourism on their city. Brugnaro has also hit out at low-value tourism, complaining about those that spend only on cheap tourist trinkets as they float in and out of the city on day trips. In response to complaints that the city was over-priced, in particular a number of high-profile stories about tourists claiming to have been ripped-off at eateries in the city, he retorted “you’re welcome, but you have to spend.” He called British tourists who were outraged by their €500 lunch bill in St Mark’s Square “cheapskates”. The latest tourist control is not without its own controversy. Justin Francis, CEO of Responsible Travel, commented: “How has this beautiful city ended up in this position? For decades tourism has been threatening Venice. They’ve found it impossible to confront the growth of tourists visiting from cruise ships or as Airbnb guests. “Now we end up with segregation of tourists and locals. It seems it’s now official that Venice has been reduced to a theme park. Tourism is about bringing people together, locals and visitors, and when done properly, both parties should reap the benefits. It should never be about segregation.”

Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle...ll-segregate-tourists-and-locals-this-summer/

Never thought that tourism could be a negative before, but I suppose it must be a pain for the locals to have their city overrun during holiday periods. But how would local businesses survive if there were no tourists?

 

[Varun]

An old complaint, which also applies to other famous tourist destinations around the world.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Never thought that tourism could be a negative before, but I suppose it must be a pain for the locals to have their city overrun during holiday periods. But how would local businesses survive if there were no tourists?

Very strange considering there are reports Venice will be under water in the decades to come. They can then be happy nobody will come.

 

[ahmedzee]

Chinese tourists are probably the worst I have seen in Europe. They don't obey the law/rules and always are in someone's space.

 

[OoparCut]

If anybody's been to Venice, then they would understand that this is not so unreasonable.

Venice is beautiful. A unique place in the world that should be preserved. But day-trippers absolutely flood the place. Imagine a city where 90% of the people on the streets are tourists. That's probably understating it.

Biggest mistake was facilitating cruise ships to use Venice as a port. Not only does that dump thousands of day-trippers into Venice, it is also causing environmental damage that will be difficult to reverse.

 

[OoparCut]

Chinese tourists are probably the worst I have seen in Europe. They don't obey the law/rules and always are in someone's space.

Chinese tourists can out-do desi paindus with their sheer ignorance, rudeness, filthiness and sense of entitlement. As an overly self-critical desi, believe me, I do not say this lightly.

 

[Pakistanian]

My friend went to venice years back, he said they were really rude while people in western europe were friendlier.