Is Tourism sinking Venice?

Jakob Hobbs explores over-tourism in Venice

The ‘Queen of the Adriatic’. The ‘City of Bridges’. ‘La Serenissima’. Famed for its network of waterways, bridges and Venetian gothic architecture the idyllic beauty of Venice has inspired countless artists, romantics and writers. Tranquillity may seem inextricably linked with this city whose nickname literally means ‘The most serene’. However, with 25 million people visiting each year (a figure set to rise to 38 million by 2038) over-tourism has become a grave issue not only for the inhabitants but for the survival of the city itself. How has it got to this and what can be done to resolve it?

Since the 18th century when it was a key stopover on the ‘Grand Tour’ (made by wealthy Europeans), Venice has always been a magnet for visitors. Having been a vital port connecting Europe with the Levant, it became a cultural and artistic hub, associated with Canaletto, Vivaldi, Lord Byron, Ruskin and others. By the 20th century, tourism had become an integral part of the Venetian economy and was promoted by events such as the Venice Film Festival and Carnival. However, the rapid growth of low-cost air travel, cruise ships and Airbnb style accommodation has led to an explosion in visitor numbers, particularly day-trippers.

Arguably one of the most significant impacts of over-tourism is depopulation. The cost of living has increased rapidly, particularly due to poor employment outside of the tourism sector and rising house prices as a result of the influx of Airbnbs. The locals’ way of life has also become eroded with businesses gradually evolving to cater for tourists’ needs over those of the inhabitants. Over three decades the population of Venice has fallen from 120,000 to 55,000 with an estimated 2,000 leaving each year. The notion of Venice as a ‘living museum’ is rapidly becoming a reality as the city is slowly drained of local

A large cruise ship sailing through Venice

A large cruise ship sailing through Venice

life. Unsurprisingly, fierce anti-tourist sentiment has developed with a number of demonstrations taking place throughout 2018. Perhaps most worrying is the architectural and environmental impact which threatens to damage the city beyond repair. Cruise ships are often a target for blame since they not only produce vast quantities of pollution but are worsening erosion of the city itself through increased water turbulence and vibrations. UNESCO is even considering adding Venice to the endangered city list due to the immense threats it is facing.

The authorities have attempted to mitigate these problems by diverting cruise ships over 55,000 tonnes from docking in the historic centre of the city. The Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has also introduced controversial measures to tackle tourist levels, such as segregating locals and tourists at popular sites and charging entrance fees to gain access to the city.

So, should you forgo Venice as a holiday destination? Not necessarily. The simplest solutions for tourists are to travel off-peak, avoid Airbnbs and spend money supporting local culture and architecture that they have come to admire. Probably Venice never did entirely live up to the soubriquet of ‘La Serenissima’ but it is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world and therefore deserves respect and protection… before it sinks!

“The notion of Venice as a ‘living museum’ is rapidly becoming a reality”

Painting of Venice by Canaletto