by Travel writer Jan Morris described Venice as ‘this city built by God’. I always wanted to go, but some residents preferred that I didn’t. With global tourism set to double by 2050, I don’t blame them.
Each place has a capacity for the number of tourists it can support. Popular places such as Venice will have to limit numbers. There are too many people taking in the views from St. Mark’s Square or the Rialto Bridge at any one time, too many day trippers flooding in, too many short-term vacation rentals instead of homes for locals, and too many cruise tourists arriving. into masse. but spend very little in the short hours they stay.
Venice is one of the poster children for what is known as overtourism – a destination that is so popular it is overwhelmed by the number of visitors. We may limit numbers through higher prices, taxes or advance bookings and limited ticketing at attractions.
The Italian city introduced a tourist tax in April for overnight stays for tourists, and a fee of five euros for day tourists visiting the islands of the Venetian Lagoon. In the UK, Wales and Manchester are introducing visitor levies and the first so-called coastal tourism tax coming to Dorset has been put on hold – following protests from hotels.
Places like Venice are popular because they are beautiful. But if you’ve ever moved slowly with a crowd down a busy street, or struggled to spot a famous building, you’ll know that over-tourism can ruin the experience of visiting a place you’ve traveled to. see. But we rarely stop to imagine how this affects the experience of the people who live there. Large-scale protests by angry residents – from the Canary Islands to Majorca, BarcelonaDubrovnik — have grown since 2017, hitting the headlines again in recent weeks.
The peaks see Venice receive an average of 40,000 day tourists visiting the capital of the Veneto region, while here in the north-east of the country the resident population has fallen to less than 50,000 – from more than four times that. Residents claim they have been priced out of the uncontrolled growth of vacation rentals. As rents rise, local businesses struggle to survive and are replaced by international chains.
Residents find it difficult to navigate busy streets, the noise and disturbance they carry which can be a huge influx of tourists in relation to the local population. And they have lost the ability to pick up everyday items as many local shops and businesses have been replaced by souvenir shops, and markets are full of tourists taking photos but not buying anything.
The same goes for many destinations around the world that are bucking off the beaten track and rush hour tours. Just look at Miami Beach, which took the bold step of releasing an ad earlier this year actively discouraging regular surfers from visiting the Florida city during the weeks that college students typically descend on for their breaks. rather, extending from the end of February to the middle of April. Watch Breaking Up With Spring Break.
Last year, Amsterdam went one step further. A Google search for the likes of ‘stag party Amsterdam’ or ‘pub crawl Amsterdam’ set up an advertising campaign that showed videos of tourists in cuffs to deter travelers looking for a ‘messy night’. Amsterdam needs tourists – but only the right ones.
As visitors, we have a responsibility to the communities we are a part of. We need to protect the places we love, and limiting tourism to places like Venice or Amsterdam can do the right thing. I interviewed Venetian residents and tourism experts for a documentary on overtourism called Crowded Out, which I made for the customers of our travel companies. They don’t want tourism to end, but they want balance.
Here are some things you can do to travel more responsibly, so you don’t contribute to the growing problem of over-tourism.
1. If you can, stay longer. You’ll see more – and spend more.
2. Stay in a hotel rather than a vacation rental. Houses and apartments should be available for rent or purchase by residents.
3. Choose a locally owned hotel over a global chain – the destination is more likely to be worth the money.
4. Avoid taking cruise ships in large groups — these fossil fuel powered vessels are a major contributor to air pollution, affecting human health and historic buildings.
5. Plan to visit outside the busiest periods – usually the summer holidays of July and August – if possible.
6. Hire a guide who has a personal connection to the city. Ask them to share their knowledge to help you avoid congestion.
7. Spend your money in the community. Eat in locally owned restaurants – and if you visit markets, buy something local.
8. Support local artisans and makers. Many of these traditions and crafts are being lost, but you can visit artisans and help them nurture their indigenous skills and livelihood.
9. Consider visiting a similar destination. Some beaches may have a social moment – there will be many that are lower profile but just as beautiful.
10. Explore a visit completely out of season – Venice in winter means that everything will not be open, but that attitude is part of the charm, and enjoy it with fewer people in mystical monochrome.
The Venetians tell me they welcome the ‘right kind’ of tourism and tourists. So when I visit, I plan to be one of these. And at peak times perhaps we should be willing to pay a tourist tax premium, perhaps the price of a cup of coffee, for the privilege?
