Venice needs a thriving local community, healthy environment and living lagoon. But these are under threat. Changes in tourist attitudes and behaviors combined with better government policy can turn things around. Otherwise, Venice will continue to suffer depopulation, weakening culture, degradation of its heritage and destruction of its uniquely fragile environment
Action 1: Support Community-building accommodation – choose alternatives to Airnbnb
Help restore living space to the Venetian residential community that has been denied to it by overuse of “sharing” offers e.g. Airbnb Booking.com etc., which push up prices for residential housing. Opt for hostels, hotels, especially small, family-run places, and pro-community sharing services such as Fair BnB coop If unavailable, encourage landlords to offer their property through this service.
Action 2: Walk and use public transport – reduce environmental damage
Reduce noise and air pollution and erosion of the lagoon and the foundations of ancient buildings by not using private water taxis for normal sightseeing, except if disabled. Walk, or use the water bus. Limit your environmental impact.
Action 3: Use small eco-friendly cruise ships — help to exclude large ships from Venice
If you come to Venice on a cruise, choose one of the new generation of cleaner, maneuverable vessels. Cruise ships (especially older models and those over 40,000 tons) entering the Venetian lagoon by any route cause extremely high levels of erosion and air pollution. The unsightly giants pass too close to monuments, causing collisions that could be catastrophic.
Action 4: Visit for more than a day — spread the demand and slow down
Day trippers on eat-and-run visits of a few hours cause the lion’s share of damage with their rapid movement and excessive demands on “must sees”. Slow down, take your time, go to the many worthwhile sights beyond the “must sees”, stay overnight, if possible. Observe the responsible behaviour guidelines.
Action 5: Act like you are in someone’s home — be courteous beyond the basic rules
Venice is not a resort or an attraction. People live there. Do not block bridge steps or narrow streets. Venetians need to get to places, to work or school. Residents need quiet. They are your flat-sharing neighbors and need to get up early in the morning. Observe the domestic rules (such as on refuse disposal). Respect others’ privacy in churches or cemeteries
Action 6: Support the local economy – patronize artisans, local shops and services.
Buying locally supports the community. Seek out the local and independent shops and eating places. Local artisans and traditional outlets are part of Venice’s cultural heritage. Hire a guide locally and visit the lagoon.
Action 7: Promote political reform – share and sign up to the tourist movement below.
Share these actions with others. Join our mailing list. In future, Venetian citizens’ groups, such as the signatories to this manifesto, may need your help in promoting change. The Ad Hoc Committee of Tourists for Venice, creators of this manifesto will alert yout to any actions by these groups where tourist support would be invited .
CONCLUSION
“Tourism is often perceived as a threat to conservation of World Heritage. In fact, tourism is a platform and a vehicle for presenting heritage to the public, conserving it and guaranteeing its economic and social viability. Hence, tourism is in most cases a balancing mechanism that keeps and protects the heritage itself.” Our World Heritage
Activist tourists can make a difference through the above actions, and if you are willing to sign up or share the actions, you are the kind of tourists Venice needs and wants. The complex issues faced by Venice need solutions forced by the Venetians themselves but tourists who come together as a movement can be critical supporters of change. Saving Venice, involves change. In the short term, those who have benefited from inadequately regulated industries, such as property rentals, taxi transport, cruise businesses and some retail, may face difficult adjustments. Economic diversification is needed to provide jobs and opportunities for them. New restrictions on tourist visits to Venice, limiting numbers or adding charges to discourage overcrowding, are necessary. As tourists, we need to do more than support such regulations for the sake of Venice. Responsible, activist tourists can help bring about necessary change.
LET VENICE LIVE!
Wield your power as a tourist to end exploitation of this world heritage site!
Why?
Venice needs a thriving local community, healthy environment and living lagoon. But these are under threat. Changes in tourist attitudes and behaviors combined with better government policy can turn things around. Otherwise, Venice will continue to suffer depopulation, weakening culture, degradation of its heritage and destruction of its uniquely fragile environment.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THIS ACTION MANIFESTO (CLICK FOR DETAILS):
1: Support community-building accommodation – especially with sharing offers
Opt for hostels, small, family-run hotels and B&Bs or shared accommodation offered by a resident owner who lets no more than one property or lets their own home out for no more than 90 days a year. Such offers are listed on the pro-community service Fair BnB coop. If unavailable there, encourage landlords to let via this service. Typical sharing, such as on Airbnb, may deny residential housing to the local community, pushing up prices and driving depopulation.
2: Walk and use public transport – reduce environmental damage
Venice is the city for walking par excellence. Sightsee by foot to reduce noise, air pollution and erosion of the lagoon. When necessary, use the water bus. If you take private water taxis use only licenced taxis and insist they travel at dead slow in canals to reduce erosion of the foundations of ancient buildings.
3: Use small eco-friendly cruise ships -- help to exclude large ships from Venice
If you come to Venice on a cruise, choose one of the new generation of cleaner, maneuverable vessels. Cruise ships (especially older models and those over 40,000 tons) entering the Venetian lagoon by any route cause extremely high levels of erosion and air pollution. The unsightly giants pass too close to monuments, causing collisions that could be catastrophic.
4: Visit for more than a day -- spread the demand and slow down
Day trippers on eat-and-run visits of a few hours cause the lion’s share of damage with their rapid movement and excessive demands on “must sees”. Slow down, take your time, go to the many worthwhile sights beyond the “must sees”, stay overnight, if possible.
5: Act like you are in someone’s home -- be courteous beyond the basic rules
Venice is not a resort or an attraction. People live there. Do not block bridge steps or narrow streets. Venetians need to get to places, to work or school. Residents need quiet. They are your flat-sharing neighbors and need to get up early in the morning. Observe the domestic rules (such as on refuse disposal). Respect others’ privacy in churches or cemeteries.Observe the responsible behaviour guidelines.
6: Support the local economy – patronize artisans, local shops and services.
Buying locally supports the community. Seek out the local and independent shops and eating places. Local artisans and traditional outlets are part of Venice’s cultural heritage. Hire a guide locally and visit the lagoon.
7: Promote political reform – share and sign up to the tourist movement below.
Share these actions with others. Join our mailing list. In future, Venetian citizens’ groups, such as the signatories to this manifesto, may need your help in promoting change. Let Venice live, creators of this manifesto will alert you to any actions by these groups where tourist support would be invited .
CONCLUSION
Activist tourists can make a difference through the above actions, and if you are willing to sign up or share the actions, you are the kind of tourists Venice needs and wants.
CONCLUSION
“Tourism is often perceived as a threat to conservation of World Heritage. In fact, tourism is a platform and a vehicle for presenting heritage to the public, conserving it and guaranteeing its economic and social viability. Hence, tourism is in most cases a balancing mechanism that keeps and protects the heritage itself.” Our World Heritage
Activist tourists can make a difference through the above actions, and if you are willing to sign up or share the actions, you are the kind of tourists Venice needs and wants. The complex issues faced by Venice need solutions forced by the Venetians themselves but tourists who come together as a movement can be critical supporters of change. Saving Venice, involves change. In the short term, those who have benefited from inadequately regulated industries, such as property rentals, taxi transport, cruise businesses and some retail, may face difficult adjustments. Economic diversification is needed to provide jobs and opportunities for them. New restrictions on tourist visits to Venice, limiting numbers or adding charges to discourage overcrowding, are necessary. As tourists, we need to do more than support such regulations for the sake of Venice. Responsible, activist tourists can help bring about necessary change.