Disruptions, incivility, depletion of resources and inhabitants, degradation of the visitor experience... tourism would, for some destinations, be a source of unrest felt too frequently by indigenous people. Between myth and reality, what are the real issues? What do the hotel activity figures say? What solutions have been provided? Hospitality ON is launching a series of analyses on this subject, which has been in the news since the beginning of the summer. Part Two: Venice.
What the press and politicians are saying
The Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, is trying to fight mass tourism in its city, at least to reduce its negative impact on the urban environment. An entrepreneur hailing from the working class, this former business leader has a popular and populist political image, giving residents priority over tourists. The situation is such that the demographic balance is negative: the city's residential population is declining every year as residents flee the constant tides of tourists that swarm into the city every day of the year. Matteo Secchi, president of the association venessia.com, explained:
The center of Venice is losing 1,000 residents each year. It now has fewer than 55,000, compared to 100,000 forty years ago, there is great danger. We are becoming Pompeii, a city people come to visit, say it is magnificent, but where no one lives.
Among other things leading to this mass exodus of residents is the explosion of real estate prices, whether it is in terms of buying or renting. This crisis was greatly generated by the increasing scarcity of square meters that have been taken over different temporary accommodation solutions for tourists. Residents are moving out to the suburbs where the cost of living is much more affordable.
The figures
The Serenissima has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1987 and continues to attract increasing volumes of visitors who want to discover the famous lagoon city. Each year it hosts 30 million visitors on average, while its residents are only about 55,000. Demonstrating an undeniable appeal, the city outperformed throughout almost all of August 2019, placing it among the Top-3 best growth results in terms of occupancy rate during the weeks of August 5 to 11, 12 to 18 August, and 19 to 25 August...
This content is for subscribers only. You have 80% left to discover.
Every week, the HON team brings you an expert look at the world of hospitality.
By becoming a member, you will have access to a complete ecosystem: exclusive content, jobs, etc.
BECOME A MEMBERAlready a member ? Login
