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Is there anything more magical, I wonder, than being in a place like Rome, or Florence, for the first time? The emotion of finally seeing “for real” what we have known all our lives from pictures in books, TV documentaries, or the words of our relatives, is something difficult to describe, so much so it’s not unusual for some to remain speechless, or even shed a tear or two — guilty: it happened to me the first time I saw the Colosseum.

Unfortunately, though, there may be something else — and not quite as poetic — we associate with our visits to Italy: people. Too many, too noisy, not always well-behaved. With them come also a series of other problems, like queues at museums and historical sites of course, but also a loss of authenticity for so many of our most beautiful cities, where locals end up leaving because of rising living costs, confusion, and whatnot. 

I recently came across an interesting analysis offered by Bertram Niessen on Artribune, where he highlights the urgent need for Italy to diversify its economy and regulate tourist influx, lest the country’s cultural heritage becomes a mere backdrop for selfies. Venice, Niessen explains, is a prime example of the over-tourism crisis — and if you’re an attentive reader you probably remember we said the same on these very pages a while back. Once a thriving city, home to Venetians and visited by intellectuals, it now faces an existential threat: according to Responsible Vacation, the city receives around 20 million visitors each year, overwhelming its local population of just 55,000. The influx has led to a decline in the quality of life for residents, who must navigate through crowds and put up with often disrespectful behavior.

While the influx of tourists may seem like the obvious culprit in Italy’s over-tourism dilemma, the reality is far more intricate. Niessen, for one, subtly hints at the systemic issues that make cities like Rome and Venice overly dependent on tourism revenue.

But what has fueled this unsustainable surge in visitors?

The advent of low-cost aviation certainly had a role: it democratized travel, making historic cities just a budget flight away for millions. According to Deutsche Welle, this ease of access has given rise to “hit and run” tourism, where visitors pop in for a day or two, straining the city’s resources while contributing minimally to the local economy.

Then there are cruise ships, those floating behemoths that unleash thousands of tourists into small cities like Venice in a single go: these ships dock for a few hours and then sail away, leaving behind a city grappling with the strain on its infrastructure and little economic benefit for local businesses that don’t fit into the tourists’ tight schedules.

Adding another layer of complexity are home-sharing platforms like Airbnb. While they have revolutionized the lodging industry by offering travelers more options, they’ve also inflated property prices and displaced locals from city centers. According to some, this phenomenon has led to the creation of bona fide  “ghost towns,” where properties are bought solely for short-term rentals, eroding that sense of community we consider almost synonymous with life in Italy.

Perhaps the most insidious factor of them all, however, is the commercialization of culture. Tourism shifted from being a form of cultural exchange to a commercial transaction where visitors are often rushed from one landmark to another, with scant time or inclination to engage with the local culture, history, or people. This turns historic cities into mere stages for social media posts, undermining the very essence of travel as a tool for global understanding.

In the face of an over-tourism crisis that threatens both the cultural heritage and the daily lives of residents, Italian cities have been compelled to take decisive action. Venice, often cited as ground zero for over-tourism, led the charge with some of the most stringent measures: the city didn’t only ban large cruise ships from docking but also introduced fines for disruptive tourist behavior, such as picnicking in public spaces or swimming in the canals. These actions aim to preserve the delicate ecosystem of the city, both environmentally and culturally.

A busy Piazza di Spagna in Rome. According to some experts, Italy needs to handle tourism better (Photo: Jannis Werner/Dreamstime)

However, Venice is not alone in this struggle. Other regions like Sardinia and Cinque Terre, Deutsche Welle explains, also started to introduce bans and controls: Sardinia, for instance, there are restrictions on taking sand from beaches, a seemingly small act that has a cumulative impact on the local environment; Cinque Terre went a step further by implementing a tourist quota system to limit the number of visitors during peak seasons.

Yet, these measures come with their own set of challenges. While they are designed to protect and preserve, they also risk alienating the very tourists who contribute significantly to the local economy. Fines and restrictions were met with mixed reactions, both from tourists and local businesses that rely on tourism for their livelihood. Some argue that these measures are too harsh and could deter potential visitors, leading to economic repercussions that could be as damaging as over-tourism itself. Moreover, there’s the question of enforcement: with limited resources, how effectively can these rules be implemented? And what is the long-term strategy? 

As Italy grapples with the over-tourism crisis, Bertram Niessen offers a glimmer of hope in the form of sustainable tourism. But what does this entail? It’s not merely about reducing tourist numbers, it’s about creating a tourism model that is harmonious with the local community and environment. Niessen suggests that diversifying the local economy is crucial: cities must break free from the shackles of tourism dependency by investing in other high-value sectors, such as technology or artisan crafts, thereby creating alternative sources of revenue. Regulating tourist numbers is another key aspect. This doesn’t necessarily mean turning visitors away but managing the flow to avoid overwhelming the local infrastructure. Implementing booking systems for popular attractions or even entire neighborhoods could be a viable solution.

But while much of the responsibility for managing overtourism falls on local governments and organizations, we, as travelers, are not mere bystanders in this narrative. Traveling and tourism website TravelPulse urges tourists, quite literally, to choose less traveled roads: by opting for less popular destinations, visitors can experience the Italy’s rich culture and history without adding to the over-tourism burden. Vacationing during off-peak seasons is another way to mitigate the impact. Not only does this ease the strain on local resources, but it also offers a more authentic experience, free from the crowds that swarm the cities during peak seasons. It’s a win-win situation: travelers get a more intimate experience, and local communities can spread the tourism load more evenly throughout the year.

In conclusion, the path forward seems to be one of balance and thoughtful action, because the solution to the issues caused by over-tourism doesn’t lie in isolation but in sustainable integration, where tourists and locals can coexist in a harmonious landscape that honors Italy’s past while securing its future. The onus is not just on government and policymakers, though, but also on us, the travelers. By choosing to travel responsibly, we become part of the solution, ensuring that the Italy we love remains vibrant and authentic for generations to come.