
Threatened by the havoc of mass tourism, the city of Venice wants to control hotel expansion within its city centre. Barcelona had already implemented equivalent measures a few months ago.
However, the regulation would only affect the city centre, meaning hospitality development projects could still take place in Venice's suburban districts and islands.
There are no regulations in the works regarding private rentals; conversely, Barcelona has taken measures directly targeting AirBnB and HomeAway.
Tourism in Venice is the city's main industry and its main employment pool: millions of tourists visit The Floating City each year. However, numerous voices have spoken up against tourists' disrespectful behavior, as well as overcrowded areas and the havoc mass tourism wreaks on Venetian heritage. UNESCO even considers adding it to its list of endangered cities.
Also read:
- Overview of tourism and the hotel industry in Barcelona [Infography]
- Venice: culture feeds the hotel industry
- Italy: public properties and heritage sites in exchange for touristic investments
- InterContinental Hotels & Resorts prepares to sail into Venice
