Residents of Venice have expressed concern over mass tourism in their historic city, which is experiencing record population numbers, with mass tourism cited as the main contributing factor as thousands of visitors visit the center each year. -city, making it difficult for long-time residents to stay in the city.
According to Venessia.com, a group that has campaigned for the preservation of Venice for several years, the Venetian population will drop to between 50,000 by tomorrow, as the organization’s head Matteo Secchi revealed based on data from the ‘civil status, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“We’ve been warning about this for years…we don’t want to give up, but no administration has succeeded in reversing the trend. Tourism is a double edged sword because you take in money, but at the same time you kick out all activities and space for [the residents]”, Secchi told the Guardian.
He also pointed out that the growing number of tourists and the emphasis on tourism are “suffocating” the locals, turning the city into a “slot machine” – too difficult a place to live.
The main consequences of mass tourism and this approach to the city are the increase in the cost of living, the lack of affordable housing options and the substitution of essential city businesses by tourist souvenir shops.
The city authorities launched a program earlier this year to attract young people and remote workers to the historic center, which also aimed to attract new people in order to increase the population, but it did not give the expected results.
“We need a change of times and for the council to take important measures, such as offering financial incentives to landlords who, for example, only rent to Venetians. The danger is that we will soon disappear. We will be like relics in an open-air museum,” noted Secchi.
However, the Venice council does not appear seriously concerned about the population decline, saying the number does not reflect foreign workers and students who live in the city or part-time residents.
The city has introduced new limits and charges for visitors over the past two years, with the most recent taking effect in January. Specifically, from January 16, 2023, visitors passing through the city and not intending to stay the night will have to register online and pay from €3 to €10 ($5 to 16.80 $).
Another measure introduced for tourists in Venice is to ban large ships over 25,000 tons from entering the historic center of the city via the Giudecca Canal, with the law taking effect in July 2021.
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