It is Easter Sunday 2018 and there are 125,000 visitors in Venice, a number that the country of Bangladesh welcomes annually.
The increasing in cheap airfare has triggered a boom in the tourism industry. 2017 saw 1,3 billion international travelers, a growth of 7% over 2016. There are more people travelling around the world than ever before. Moreover, the way of traveling has changed from a few-day trips, including overnight stays in hotels and exploring the city and getting to know the locals, to day- or hour-long trips.
In the 17th century a trip to Venice was affordable by only the upper class of northern Euro-peans, who visited the city as a part of their Italian tour. Writers and artists were inspired by the magic of the lagoon city. The most romantic of cities, that is what visitors considered Venice and it has that reputation still to this day. Tourism is the main economy of Venice and it offers a lot of job opportunities. But on the other hand, it is one of the most touristic cities in the world with 30 million visitors annually, and that for a city with a population of 55,000. Tourists overflow the city, they are not concerned in supporting sustainability of the city and not conscious about the negative impact they leave behind. One could argue that tourism has become an issue rather than a resource for Venice. The natural environment of Venice and its residents are suffering from their popularity and the effects of overtourism. I would argue that all stakeholders in the tourism sector in Venice need to urgently act and start building a sustain-able future for the city. To withstand overtourism and to save the city and its inhabitants from extinction.
This essay outlines positive and negative impact of overtourism in Venice concerning the economy, the social sector and its natural environment. Additionally, it will provide a short illustration of Venice’s history and the meaning of overtourism as well as solutions that Venice could implement and new suggestions to save Venice from overtourism.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Overtourism
2.1 Overtourism
2.2 Venice
2.3 Overtourism in Venice
3 Implications of Overtourism in Venice
3.1 Positive Impact
3.2 Negative Impact
3.3 Solutions
4 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the complex phenomenon of overtourism in Venice, evaluating both the economic benefits and the severe socio-environmental challenges it creates for the city and its inhabitants. The primary research focus is to assess how the imbalance between mass tourism and urban carrying capacity threatens the future of Venice and what sustainable strategies can be implemented to mitigate these risks.
- Economic reliance on mass tourism and its associated risks.
- Social impact of population decline and loss of local cultural identity.
- Environmental damage caused by cruise ship traffic and excessive visitor numbers.
- Evaluation of current management strategies and regulatory proposals.
- Strategies for achieving sustainable urban and tourism development.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Negative Impact
With overtourism, a small city like Venice experiences dire consequences in its social sector, quality of life for the local population and its environment (Ali & Clampet, 2018). The decreasing population can be explained by the following factors (Venezia Autentica, n.d.). Many of the 30 million tourists flocking to Venice do not behave well (Venezia Autentica, n.d.). Paola Mar, the head of tourism in Venice states that a lot of tourists visit the city without respect. For example, they jump in the canal, have it filmed and then upload their endeavor on YouTube (PBS NewsHour, 2017). Or tourists using the baroque fountains in the historical city as a bathtub and urinate in the pedestrians only city center (Modak, 2017).
Additionally, many tourists leave their litter in the city (Giuffrida, 2017). Due to its small size the city of Venice cannot provide tourists with resting areas. As a consequent, tourists sit and rest on bridges, in house doors and in front of shop windows (Venezia Autentica, n.d.). Tourists also lack understanding of the ecological fragility of Venice and the effect tourism and their individual presence can have on it (Ali & Clampet, 2018). The Italian government calls it the “low-quality-tourism” (Horowitz, 2017a). As a result, such poor behavior by tourists seriously harms the quality of life of the inhabitants of Venice (Venezia Autentica, n.d.).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the tourism boom in Venice and establishes the urgent need to address the consequences of overtourism for the city's sustainable future.
2 Overtourism: Defines the phenomenon of overtourism and contextualizes it through the history and current situation of Venice as a vulnerable destination.
3 Implications of Overtourism in Venice: Analyzes the dual nature of tourism, contrasting economic gains with environmental degradation and social challenges, while discussing potential solutions.
4 Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable management and policy intervention to prevent the permanent transformation of Venice.
Keywords
Overtourism, Venice, Sustainable Tourism, Mass Tourism, Environmental Impact, Social Integrity, Cultural Identity, Cruise Industry, Urban Planning, Local Population, Quality of Life, Tourism Management, Economic Reliance, Heritage Protection, Infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this term paper?
The paper focuses on the phenomenon of "overtourism" and its multifaceted impacts on the city of Venice, examining the tension between mass tourism and the city's long-term sustainability.
Which central topics are addressed?
Key topics include the economic dependency of Venice on tourism, the environmental damage caused by cruise ships, the decline in local quality of life, and the loss of the residential population.
What is the primary research objective?
The paper aims to outline the positive and negative impacts of tourism in Venice and to evaluate potential strategies and management solutions to ensure a sustainable future for the city.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The work utilizes a literature-based analytical approach, reviewing academic sources, official reports, and media journalism to document the impacts of overtourism.
What does the main part of the paper cover?
It covers the definition of overtourism, the historical background of Venice, the positive economic contributions, the severe negative social and environmental consequences, and suggested mitigation strategies.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as overtourism, sustainable development, ecological fragility, and cultural preservation.
How do cruise ships specifically impact Venice's environment?
Cruise ships contribute to the erosion of the seabed, cause damage to the city’s historic building foundations through waves, and significantly increase air pollution in the lagoon.
What is "low-quality-tourism" according to the text?
This term refers to tourist behavior that lacks respect for the local environment and culture, such as littering, vandalism, or inappropriate conduct in historic areas.
What solutions are proposed for Venice?
Proposals include implementing tourism caps, restricting short-term rentals, providing tax support for local businesses, and diverting cruise traffic to industrial ports.
Why is the resident population decreasing so rapidly?
Residents are leaving due to high costs of living, the conversion of residential housing into tourist accommodations, and the general decrease in quality of life caused by overcrowding.
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- Sandra Og (Autor:in), 2018, Venice and the Impact of Overtourism, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/598490
