L'Italo-Americano

alone in this struggle. Other regions like Sardinia and C i n q u e T e r r e , D e u t s c h e Welle explains, also started to introduce bans and controls: Sardinia, for instance, there are restrictions on taking sand from beaches, a seem- ingly 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 chal- l e n g e s . W h i l e t h e y a r e designed to protect and pre- serve, they also risk alienat- ing the very tourists who con- tribute 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 vis- itors, 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 rentals, eroding that sense of c o m m u n i t y w e c o n s i d e r almost synonymous with life in Italy. Perhaps the most insidi- ous factor of them all, howev- er, is the commercializa- tion of culture. Tourism shifted from being a form of cultural exchange to a com- mercial transaction where visitors are often rushed from one landmark to another, with scant time or inclination to engage with the local cul- ture, history, or people. This turns historic cities into mere stages for social media posts, u n d e r m i n i n g t h e v e r y essence of travel as a tool for global understanding. I n t h e f a c e o f a n o v e r - tourism crisis that threatens both the cultural heritage and the daily lives of residents, Italian cities have been com- pelled 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 disrup- tive tourist behavior, such as picnicking in public spaces or s w i m m i n g i n t h e c a n a l s . These actions aim to preserve the delicate ecosystem of the city, both environmentally and culturally. However, Venice is not hope in the form of sustain- a b l e t o u r i s m . But what d o e s t h i s e n t a i l ? I t ' s n o t m e r e l y a b o u t r e d u c i n g tourist numbers, it's about creating a tourism model that is harmonious with the local c o m m u n i t y a n d e n v i r o n - ment. Niessen suggests that diversifying the local econo- my 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 creat- ing alternative sources of rev- e n u e . R e g u l a t i n g t o u r i s t n u m b e r s i s a n o t h e r k e y aspect. This doesn't necessar- i l y m e a n t u r n i n g v i s i t o r s away but managing the flow to avoid overwhelming the local infrastructure. Imple- menting booking systems for popular attractions or even entire neighborhoods could be a viable solution. B u t w h i l e m u c h o f t h e responsibility for managing overtourism falls on local governments and organiza- tions, we, as travelers, are not mere bystanders in this nar- rative. Traveling and tourism website TravelPulse urges tourists, quite literally, to choose less traveled roads: by opting for less popular desti- nations, visitors can experi- ence 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 expe- rience, free from the crowds that swarm the cities during peak seasons. It's a win-win s i t u a t i o n : t r a v e l e r s g e t 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 b a l a n c e a n d t h o u g h t f u l action, because the solution to the issues caused by over- tourism doesn't lie in isola- tion but in sustainable inte- gration, where tourists and locals can coexist in a harmo- nious landscape that honors Italy's past while securing its future. The onus is not just on government and policy- makers, though, but also on us, the travelers. By choosing t o t r a v e l r e s p o n s i b l y , w e become part of the solution, ensuring that the Italy we l ove r emains vibr ant and authentic for generations to come. unsustainable surge in visi- tors? The advent of low-cost aviation certainly had a role: it democratized travel, making historic cities just a budget flight away for mil- lions. 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. T h e n t h e r e a r e c r u i s e ships, those floating behe- moths that unleash thou- sands 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 grap- pling with the strain on its infrastructure and little eco- nomic benefit for local busi- nesses that don't fit into the tourists' tight schedules. Adding another layer of complexity are home-shar- ing platforms like Airbnb. While they have revolution- ized the lodging industry by o f f e r i n g t r a v e l e r s m o r e options, they've also inflated p r o p e r t y p r i c e s a n d d i s - placed locals from city cen- ters. According to some, this phenomenon has led to the creation of bona fide "ghost towns," where properties are bought solely for short-term THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 2023 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano IMPRESA ITALIA MADE IN ITALY TOP BRANDS BUSINESS & ECONOMY I s there anything more m a g i c a l , I w o n d e r , than being in a place l i k e R o m e , o r F l o - r e n c e , f o r t h e f i r s t time? The emotion of finally seeing "for real" what we have known all our lives from pictures in books, TV docu- mentaries, 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 n o i s y , n o t a l w a y s w e l l - behaved. With them come also a series of other prob- lems, like queues at muse- ums and historical sites of c o u r s e , b u t a l s o a l o s s o f 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 b y B e r t r a m N i e s s e n on Artribune, where he high- lights the urgent need for Italy to diversify its economy and regulate tourist influx, lest the country's cultural h e r i t a g e b e c o m e s a m e r e backdrop for selfies. Venice, Niessen explains, is a prime e x a m p l e o f t h e o v e r - 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 Vene- tians and visited by intellec- tuals, it now faces an existen- t i a l t h r e a t : a c c o r d i n g to Responsible Vacation, the city receives around 20 mil- lion visitors each year, over- whelming its local population of just 55,000. The influx has led to a decline in the quality o f l i f e f o r r e s i d e n t s , w h o m u s t n a v i g a t e t h r o u g h 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 sys- t e m i c i s s u e s t h a t m a k e cities like Rome and Venice overly dependent on tourism revenue. But what has fueled this FRANCESCA BEZZONE A very crowded Venice. The city is trying to discourage "touch-and-go" tourism (Kirk Fisher/Dreamstime) The tipping point: Italy's battle against over-tourism

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