Venezia e il turismo di massa

Venice welcomes millions of visitors every year, far more than its resident population.

The historic city today has fewer than fifty thousand inhabitants, a number in constant decline.

Meanwhile, during peak season, up to one hundred thousand tourists arrive per day.

This imbalance has a precise name: overtourism, that is, uncontrolled mass tourism.

The narrow streets fill up, rents rise, and neighborhood shops close one after another.

In their place, mask shops, ice cream parlors, and souvenir stalls open.

Many Venetians now feel like guests in their own home.

For this reason, the city administration introduced an access fee for day visitors.

The measure, though controversial, aims to discourage hit-and-run visits.

Some consider it insufficient given the severity of the problem.

Others fear it will turn the city into a paid theme park.

Meanwhile, large cruise ships have been moved away from St. Mark's Basin.

But the fundamental question remains: how much tourism can a slowly sinking city sustain?

Saving Venice means, above all, allowing Venetians to keep living there.