By: Alex
Italian Venice is known by many titles—“The Floating City,” “City of Bridges,” and “City of Canals.” It welcomes between 26 million and 30 million tourists each year. Like all popular tourist destinations, Venice has in recent years faced the issue of overtourism, which has been a major headache for local authorities.
▲ In the eyes of tourists, Venice is a laid-back and picturesque water city. (photo by canadastock/Shutterstock)
Undeniably, tourism has become an important part of the city’s economy, but the sheer volume of visitors has drawn criticism from various quarters in this city of just 54,500 residents. First and foremost is the overcrowding in streets and alleys, especially during the peak summer season when the city can feel utterly swamped by tourists.
▲ Tourists crowd the streets and alleyways. The photo shows the area around St. Mark’s Square. (photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)
▲ During the Carnival held in spring, the entire city seems overrun by tourists. (photo by Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)
▲ Even the waterways are not spared, with gondolas lined up one after another like trains. (photo by Getty Images)
Riding a gondola through the canals may seem like a romantic experience to tourists, but there are many who share that view—resulting in long queues at gondola docks. A mere 40-minute ride costs around $140 (approximately HK$1,099). To make matters worse, “boat traffic jams” can happen at any time.
▲ Not riding a gondola feels almost like not having visited Venice at all. (photo by Maridav/Shutterstock)
▲ The canals are filled with gondolas carrying tourists. (photo by Reuters)
Travelers often expect higher prices in tourist areas, but recently, restaurants in the city have also come under fire for outrageous charges. Four student tourists ordered four steaks, one grilled fish, and a bottle of water near St. Mark’s Square—and were billed $1,366 (approximately HK$10,722). One visitor ordered two coffees and a glass of water at a café and was charged $50 (approximately HK$392), only to discover later that sitting in a “sunniest” spot came with an extra fee. A British tourist dining with his parents at a Venetian restaurant was billed $600 (approximately HK$4,709) for lunch. He complained that the restaurant took advantage of their inability to speak Italian to overcharge them.
▲ Sit by the canal, order a genuine Italian coffee, and soak in the water city atmosphere. (photo by Dario Lo Presti/Shutterstock)
▲ But restaurants might charge shocking surcharges for seats with especially nice views. (photo by KiltedArab/Shutterstock)
Venetian residents are also deeply unhappy about the influx of tourists. They argue that visitors contribute to high living costs, overcrowding, and deteriorating water quality. In fact, the number of permanent residents in Venice has been steadily declining.
▲ Venetian residents hold up suitcases labeled “Goodbye My Venice” at a protest, symbolizing their departure from the city. (photo by AP Photo)
Venice is located on the northeastern coast of Italy, made up of 118 small islands crisscrossed by waterways and connected by more than 400 bridges. Aside from the iconic gondola, major attractions include St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Carnival of Venice held in February and March—which is ranked among the world’s top three carnivals (alongside Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and France’s Nice Carnivals)—drawing endless streams of tourists.
Source: Business Insider