Venice is a world-class destination, but there are many reasons Venice is worth skipping on your travel bucket list. Keep reading to find out.
Venice is one of the world’s most iconic destinations, made famous by its unique canals and hundreds of small islands, so of course, this would be a destination high on many people’s bucket lists.
For years, Venice has attracted tourists from across the globe, eager to enjoy a gondola ride, walk in the footsteps of literary greats, and indulge in local specialties. Still, sadly, this has had devastating consequences for the region.
This article will explore how overtourism has impacted Venice, what steps are in place to overcome this destruction, and why we believe Venice is worth skipping.
So, stick around for an insightful look at overtourism’s destructive legacy in Venice.
What is overtourism? – a destructive impact on a landmark destination
Tourism is a million-dollar industry, and many destinations across the globe rely heavily on tourists to keep their economy going, yet there is such a thing as over-tourism. So, what if we told you that too much tourism could lead to terrible things, such as damage to the landscape, overcrowding, and forcing locals to relocate?
Overtourism is defined as excess tourists, which results in congestion, conflict with the locals, and soaring prices. In addition, overtourism can dramatically impact legendary landscapes. For instance, consider the problems with waste management at Mount Everest.
You might think tourism is an excellent way to boost the economy, give back to the local communities, and broaden your horizons as a traveller. You would be right to a certain extent, but overtourism begins when too many people have the same idea and visit simultaneously, thus negatively impacting the local area.
Venice is an important example of this, so let’s explore how overtourism has impacted Venice and why we believe it is a destination worth skipping.
Why Venice is worth skipping – travelling mindfully
Venice is a destination worth skipping! It is not an unworthy, overrated destination. Still, because it has been negatively impacted by overcrowding, which comes down to irresponsible travel, it is a destination that urgently needs to recover.
No thanks to cheap tours, flights, and cruises, more tourists can tick Venice off their bucket lists, which is why this destination sees a whopping 120,000 people strolling its narrow streets and along its canals daily. In one year, Venice can be flooded by up to 20 million people, which is truly unbelievable for a small area.
Believe it or not, Venice is home to just 55,000 permanent residents, many of whom are forced to navigate through hoards of tourists fresh off the boat daily.
While this is just one of the negative impacts of overtourism in Venice, there are plenty more, including damage to the old streets thanks to wheeled suitcases, noise pollution, litter problems, and soaring prices.
Yes, tourism can and sometimes does positively affect local economies, but Venice is an excellent example of when things go very wrong. Locals are forced to move away from their beloved city thanks to its unaffordability and the ever-changing atmosphere.
No longer is Venice a charming historic landmark; it is now a destination catering to tourists, where food in supermarkets and restaurants now leans towards tourists’ tastes.
Thanks to overtourism, the artisan spirit of Venice has changed, and it is every tourist’s responsibility to avoid Venice and be mindful of overcrowded destinations that are desperately trying to keep their head above water – literally in the case of Venice.
Travelling mindfully can combat overcrowding and allow places like Venice to recover, and this is something we all need to keep at the forefront of our minds when planning any trip.
Targeting over-tourism in Venice – what is being done
Of course, one of the main ways we can combat overtourism in destinations like Venice is to skip the city and not add to the problem.
In addition, rules have been established to limit the number of tourists entering famous Venetian landmarks, fines for those using wheeled suitcases, and penalties for littering and loitering. So, what about cruise ships?
Recently, Venice banned cruise ships weighing over 25,000 GRT in a bid to combat pollution and overcrowding, yet ships below this weight could still dock as normal.
According to UNESCO, overcrowding in Venice is nothing new. Still, it is worsening, which has prompted them to demand a plan be put in place by Italy and threaten to add Venice to its list of sites in danger.
While many believe that Venice has been turned into a theme park, overcrowded by AirBnB guests and cruise ship passersby, others believe that Venice is at risk of not being a viable living city if this continues.
As we can see, overtourism has caused immense destruction in many ways throughout Venice, from the lives of the locals to damage to the city infrastructure, so it is up to us to be responsible, travel sustainably, and be well-informed about whether we are adding salt to the wound or benefiting a destination.
So, if you are planning an upcoming trip, why not allow these destinations to replenish themselves and opt for an off-the-beaten-path place instead?
