Is tourism harming Venice? | DW Documentary

Venice is threatened by mass tourism. Some 30 million visitors a year come to the city in Italy, making their way through the narrow streets.

With an infrastructure more and more tailored to the needs of tourism, the city’s remaining residents feel left behind. During high season an influx of up to 130 thousand tourists a day means the city authorities have scant resources to cater for the more mundane needs of residents. A constant flotilla of small boats ferry passengers between city landing stages and giant cruise liners moored in the lagoon. Air quality in Venice is often worse than busy city centers. Within the last generation the number of residents has dropped by nearly a third. The Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square have become the main attractions in this Venetian Theme park providing locals with jobs in the tourist sector, but little else. Rents are sky high, Airbnb rules the roost. More and more historical buildings have been taken over by hotels. Shops, bars and restaurant cater almost exclusively to tourists. But residents are fighting back and now there are over 30 local initiatives trying to stem the tides of mass tourism.
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[DWDocumentary]

Dear viewers,
We would like to apologize for the mistake made at 00:48 and any inconvenience caused. The line should read: "I also fall under the spell of its more than a thousand-year history."
Thank you for your attention,
DW Documentary

[peko]

It would make a bit of difference if they don't allow those humongous cruise liners cross in the middle of the Venice. Even if they're not traveling fast, the waves they create affects the buildings there.

[iGameD]

Good News Everyone, they've banned the cruise ships, August 2019

[Ntylermil]

At minimum, they shouldn't let cruise ships go down the Giudecca Canal.

[ThatBronxgirl]

YES its harming Venice. When I first realized they let those awful cruise ships that close. Who's dumb idea was that!!

[alisav.]

this is happening all over the world if you notice...The long life residence of a place are getting pushed out by those with more money in order to turn a profit. This cannot last, its not sustainable.

[AstonMartinStig]

Tourism seems like a problem but it seems like corruption and poor management/taxation which is more of a problem.

[dutchman]

For over 50 years Venice has not been a living city.
Everything is about tourism, nothing else. Those who live there make a living out of tourism.
It is Italian Euro Disney, no schools, no normal daily live.
Events are organized for tourist, all theater, nothing authentic.

[bookie]

This is all very true but the documentary fails to adequately point out who created this mess, ie the Venetian authorities. They dredged the water ways and built cruise ship terminals to attract cruise ships. They gave planning permission for the creation of new hotels and have just invested heavily in Marco Polo airport, all to attract more tourists. You can hardly blame people for wanting to visit such a beautiful city. Instead of the local inhabitants harassing tourists on ships they should harass their elected officials, or better still stand for office themselves

[aldrickbanks]

Italians speaking English is so fun. Woodsa, licensa, yesa, polisa, montha, daysa, importanta, which makes them sound so sincere.

[maccaloube]

“To build a city where it is impossible to build a city is madness in itself, but to build there one of the most elegant and grandest of cities is the madness of genius.” Alexander Herzen

[katerinesantana]

This city is too fragile to allow these big cruise ships to dock inside the city. People continue the good fight to save your city.

[kauemoura]

270 euros a night, no wonder she refurbished the house.
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Edit: When I posted this I didn't have a clue I'd be visiting Venice less than one year after commenting this. I had mixed feelings because I saw lots of closed places and not taken care of, at the same time, I was one more in the hordes of people who visit the city everyday. It must be a nightmare for the locals to have all of those people visiting it. Still, despite the places that are run down and the occasional smelly place, most of the city is absolutely gorgeous (if you're into old cities).

[Cathy]

I feel sorry for all the craftsman and artisans who made this city. They put love and pride in what they did into their work. Imagine if they could see this.

[ghmg]

I just love the background research for your documentaries. So clear.

[thejunkjournalco]

This was so interesting. As a tourist myself, I was in this amazing city back in 2011. It definitely put me under its spell of its amazing magic. The people were amazing. But watching this saddens me so much and I knew but didn’t realise the extent of the damage tourism is causing to beautiful Venice. I truly respected the culture and rules while there. But to see its community been driven out and struggle to live in their own city is an outcry. I’m glad that ships are no longer a loud to go there to dock but the problem still remains. This beautiful place needs saving. I can say that I will never return, not because I don’t want too but because I can not afford too. Even if I could the city is fast losing its attraction due to the tourists. But I will always have my fond memories of the beauty it was in 2011.
Good luck to the locals and shame on the council and laws that allow what’s happened. Corruption at its finest

[motorcop]

Sadly, these problems are common to most holiday resorts. I worked as a cop in a resort of over 350, 000 people and it was astonishing how people behaved while on vacation. I later worked in a university town and the students were just as badly behaved. Around the world it's $, £, €, ¥ that drives the economies. That will never change.

[mindlessgreen]

These are all consequences of a free market system. The problem is not the tourist or the ships or the airbnbs. The problem is poor management and corruption.

[StephiSensei]

I know this program is already 3 yrs old, but I am relieved to learn that the floating monstrosities are now banned from the Grand Canal. Just watching them slowly floating by, was like some bloated beast devouring the the harmonic ambiance of Venice. I hope the Italian government will finally do something and open its eyes to the fact that a treasure like Venice, once gone will never return. I know Venice intimately, and my heart weeps for its inevitable demise. There's a French song from the 60's, Charles Aznavour, I believe, where one of the verses says, "...que c'est triste Venize!" (Venice, it's so sad.) How ironic that a city known for its mirth, frolic and merriment should meet such a sad end.

[ionutcernea]

One of the best tourist spots in the world and you manage to have 800 million euro debt... Great management!