The Problems of Tourism in Venice
An Increasing Number of Visitors Places Venice Under Strain
Sep 27, 2009
They call Venice “La Serenissima” (The Most Serene One), but there is little serenity to be found in twenty-first century Venice. Crowds throng the Rialto, huge cruise ships dwarf the Piazzetta, and regular bottle-necks impede progress as visitors from around the world make their way to St Mark's Square.
The Pressures of Tourism in Venice
An undoubted jewel of Western civilisation, it is not surprising that Venice is attracting ever more visitors, but the city's infrastructure is groaning under the weight of so many feet. The Venice Report, produced by British charity Venice in Peril in 2009, makes the problem clear with some thought-provoking statistics. In 2009 the resident population of Venice numbered just 60,209, a decline of more than 60 percent since 1952. Yet in 2007 the city attracted 16.5 million tourists.
Such an influx is taking its toll on both the city's building stock and demography. Between 2000 and 2007, 41 new hotels were opened, mainly in grand palazzi. The number of bed and breakfast establishments and rooms to rent increased 1008 percent in the same period. Property prices have doubled, accelerating the exodus of Venetians to the mainland.
Also, despite opposition from residents, the sight of cruise ships in Venice looks set to become even more frequent. The port authority of Venice plans to have enough berths for five big ships by 2012. Such ships carry a minimum of 2000 passengers.
Managing Tourism in Venice
As if Venice didn't have enough of a problem with its seemingly inexorable slide beneath the waters of the lagoon, the growth in visitor numbers is clearly putting the city under pressure. Traditionally, the authorities have taken a laissez faire approach to tourism in Venice, but the increasingly obvious problems have lead to talk of regulating tourism in the city more closely.
Some have suggested limiting the number of day trippers coming into Venice. Others, among them Anna Somers Cocks (Chairman of the Venice in Peril Fund), have put forward the idea of an entrance ticket. Somers Cocks told the audience at a talk on the future of Venice at the Italian Cultural Institute in London on 23 September 2009 that a charge of 10 euros would not be unreasonable, provided that the money went to the preservation of the city.
Venice Connected
As a preliminary to possible regulation, the Venice Report cites research by COSES (Consorzio per la Ricerca e Formazione) which calculated that the city can comfortably absorb 50,000 visitors a day, a figure including both day-trippers and those staying overnight. The current average number of tourists a day is 59,000.
While limiting numbers is still some way off, the Comune, or Municipality, of Venice has taken a first step towards managing the flow of visitors to the city with the online system Venice Connected. Launched in February 2009, Venice Connected enables visitors to book tickets in advance for services such as public transport, museums and car parking. Those wishing to come during busy periods will pay more than those who come during quieter seasons. The aim is to even out the flow of tourists throughout the year.
There is some debate as to which poses the greater danger to Venice, rising waters or the rising number of visitors. Yet both are facts of Venetian life, and need action.
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