Vanishing Venice: The sinking city losing its soul | Foreign Correspondent
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- Italy's “Floating City” is sinking under its sea level and the weight of mass tourism. Now residents of Venice are fighting to save it's soul before it vanishes, as Samantha Hawley reports.
Read more here: ab.co/2J91RlX
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I am 1000% with the people of Venice. They have to defend it. If they don't defend and protect it, there will be nothing to see. : ((
As italian I tell you that we are a mass of miserable people. Until the poverty will come into our houses , we will never react to nothing. I used to work for the government. I quit the job , where fake sick people still keeping getting salaries, and the government didn't recognize any form of retirement . I paid my taxes for years for what?........Where are the money I paid to INPS ? They put in their pocket. We allowed so many immigrant ( not refugee) to come in to do what????? So I left my country. Actually I left Europe which is now a big cesspool.
you are correct@@meme-bz6iw
@@meme-bz6iw Nice. typical of italians to throw stuff over immigrants aint it. My father was an immigrant. He lived 15 years in italy. Worked honestly and legally. Payed taxes and his payed miney was going to the fake sick too. so shut up and stop blaming immigrants for miserable life. Italians have made my life miserable when they called me "ugly race".
Now, the mass crowds are killing polar bears. Pretty soon, Antarctica will be gone.
@@meme-bz6iw corruption indeed
Not the cruise ship
When I was a student I went to Venice with my architecture class. I awoke early one morning and walked to the Piazza San Marco, where there were only 5 other people. A fashion model, a photographer, a man playing a grand piano, a man sweeping the square and a young priest reciting his breviary. It did not escape me that very few people would ever experience La Serenissima as I did. I have absolutely no desire to be there in the company of hundreds of tourists. Or thousands.
When was that
Same, for it was with my now wife on one of our first trips together with the rest of my family. That was in early '90s. No cruise ships. I have zero desire to go back.
Not so common now that the Hard Rock is adjacent and late pedestrians, but you used to be able to hit San Marco from midnight to dawn and experience SILENCE... except for the cooing of all those pigeons in the rafters....
Yeah - when I was there in 2000, there weren't hats for sale from what I remember. That's tacky.
Well bully for you, big man. What a superior human you are!
PS: No collusion.
Limit the number of tourists the way a museum would have limited visitors.
lol
How?
@@sandyj3041 Every port regulates the number of ships (and passengers) allowed in from the Adriatic. Each automobile or bus is parked and ticketed in an area close to the main train station just over the bridge from the mainland. They routinely do a survey of the number of residents in the city, so in this day and age, you could probably give a pretty close estimate as to exactly how many people are walking or sitting around the city on any given afternoon. "Rocket scientists" have already laid the groundwork.
@@bradthompsonuk2011 so ,why they don't do that ? if that is that easy .
Or tax accommodation for tourists, with the proceeds set aside to subsidize rentals for local workers. Or have a substantial tourist entry fee, targeting foreigners, the same as happens for many national parks etc. (edit: commented while watching this, seems like that's what they are doing).
I visited Venice as a student tourist in 1965. There were no cruise ships, and although it was summer, the city was not crowded. It was beautiful and kind of eerie, because even then the city was sinking. I'm glad I saw it then. I won't be going back, I'll remember it how it was.
Get rid of the cruise lines and the there would be a dramatic improvement.
The city would likely bankrupt. They rely too much on the tourist revenue. A curb in tourism would definitely have a domino effect.
@@bradthompsonuk2011 the city or the bunch of wealthy owners that are gentrifying everything?
I'm not so certain that the city residents or dwellings are suffering, but some buildings do evidently require some renovation and upgrade. Very seldom do you see any evidence of contractors doing interior work, but many properties do have a small courtyard hidden beyond those big wooden doors. I would take a fixer-upper in Venice in a heartbeat!
@@bradthompsonuk2011 Not really - cruise ship tourist contribute almost nothing to the local economy since their accommodation & food is already provided. They stay a few hours and buy a 5 euro hat. It's not a sustainable model, at least not compared to people who stay in hotels for a few days.
@@ckm-mkc If you happen to be a Venetian, make your way down to the Savelli shop directly behind San Marco. Also the Murano shop on the 2nd or 3rd floor overlooking the Piazza. There ARE a select group of vendors that the ship patrons are herded to. After they've dropped a sufficient amount of money in those, and everyone has received their cut (the guides go back to collect after the group has been set free to enjoy their free time or lunch). The tourists spend much more than five euros.. it's just not evenly distributed to all vendors throughout the city.
Poor Venetians.
Greed is killing bella Venezia.
It is a policy issue. Cruise ships,Airbnb,Tourist can be taxed/charged, generated revenue redistributed to do better housing fixing the city (sanitation, garbage,water system) can be modernized carefully without changing its appeal to keep right balance of local vs tourisim. These problems have solutions. Look at cities of Switzerland, tourism and locals co-exist so well. Be cautious of protectionism as loss of tourism in a country like Italy could hit economy really really hard.
@SydMint : What is a solution?
Most of the money goes to tarting up the touristy areas, not the residential areas, which are deteriorating at an increased rate. Maintaining the properties themselves is incredibly expensive for private individuals, so the buildings are just eroding. Without local residents, it will just be a sinking amusement park. This city ruled the seas and was a formidable cultural melting pot for generations. Its people are its soul. Viva Venezia!
Woah calm down there Mr. Pajeet, we are not called Greece, our economy isn't relying on dumbasses who come to our most beautiful places just to get scammed like retards in buying stuff that pakistanis sell. Keep your ignorance at bay and read some books.
Much like New Orleans Air Bnb is killing the souls of what makes these cities great. How about being responsible and limiting the number of listings allowed?
Taylor Nezovich exactly like that
Taylor Nezovich what’s your thoughts on, refugees welcome,, Do as I say not as I do , comes to mind 🏴🏴
how about just reduce the human population
I don’t see this being a refugee issue. This is an influx of tourists who really don’t contribute money back into the community. It seems like most of the Airbnb’s aren’t owned by homeowners in the traditional sense. When an ancient city is being overwhelmed like this putting a cap on the amount of people allowed in in crucial. Venice simply can’t survive without its locals.
@@decayedcake1245 You first.
The government should pass a bill that would limit the tourist for atleast per month or yr something like that..like what president Duterte did in Boracay.. God bless Venice..
It is sad that greedy politicians are the cause of Venice's decline. Once a power house back then, but now a potential victim of extinction. My heart goes out to the Venetians who are the lifeline of the city.
11:40 Tourists spend $9 billion per year in Venice. So, where is all that money going?
CHINA!!!!...Hahahahaha!!!
You'd better start learning Chinese or Russian...it's the end of the world as we know it.
@@ilpezkato Hey genius. At 2:45-3:30, did you see any Russians or Chinese in that crowd? NO?? Instead, how about Afros or Bangladeshis....Go to Florence, you'll see streets full of Banglas. YES IN FLORENCE I HEARD BENGALI BEING SPOKEN IN CERTAIN AREAS MORE OFTEN THAN ITALIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Rome & Milan, Afros everywhere. Italians had better learn some Bengali or one of the main African languages because that's their future majority demographic. Get a clue ;)
Landlords and souvenir shop owners
No you better start learning the Koran... and quick
Best of luck Venice.
Why did you allow cruise ships to visit?!
Rome wants the tourist money.
The government is taking these decisions, not the local people
€ £ $.....
Yeah that is insane. I went in 2000. I don't remember it happening then.
Money.
the masks that woman had made are very beautiful, willing to bet very durable too.
Yes, but customers usually prefer knock offs made with little Chinese children's deft hands...like quilts and Americana here.
14:30. I remember seeing one of these MASSIVE cruise ships 14 years ago when my family went to Venice. The enormous size shrinks the cityscape. The wake it caused was huge. Everything about the cruise ship was vulgar.
Why can't the cruise ship dock south of Venice and everyone can take a train in or bus? If you really want to come to Venice don't do it by cruise ship. Besides, it takes a good three days just to see the very best sights.
I was there 30 years ago and there were no cruise ships and not so many tourists - we stayed IRC 4 or 5 days in a hotel on the grand canal. After seeing this, I will not be going back.
THEY LOOK LIKE FLOATING PRISONS.
Venice is one of the most beautiful places to go, seeing this is now making me think twice if I should contribute in its tourism that's destroying this place :(
Went here as a child many many years ago, and the side pavements were empty..but back then, tourism was tiny.. Venice just was not rammed like this. No cruise ships.
It is the cruise ship. Venice can’t accommodate such mass without losing its soul. I spent a week in Venice in OCtober 2016, living next to St Basilio vaporetto stop. I loved walking around very early in the morning and late at night. The island was sleepy and quiet without cruise ship tourists.
So why don’t the politicians legislate laws prohibiting cruise ships from coming into Venice? Keep them several miles out and taxi the tourists into the city by smaller boats. No?
we don't have any politician in my country. They are all thieves.
It costs $7-8 to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, so why not charge the same for every tourist arriving by bus or cruise ship into the ports of Venice?
They do
The report mentioned that, but the money's not dripping to the local economy. The federal & local gov't's are pocketing the money. Same will continue with the newly imposed monetary contribution of each tourist, cruise ship. It's not right that the local people can't afford housing because of other outside interests. Hopefully the gov't will intervene, but not counting on that with the way they have acted in the past.
I don't see how that would make a difference. The obscene ticket prices to get into Disney parks don't make a dent in the crowds.
25:01 they talk about that here
one easy solution is to raise the port fee to the point no cruise ship will want to dock there..... problem solved
I pity the local residents of venice. So much feels for them.. this is actually a tragedy in the making.. After watching this and thinking the problems we have in every country, i cant imagine how sad our world really is. Consequences of beauty is destruction, a depressing reality.
A sad paradigm... Tourism brings the income, yet is destroying the city...
The Cruise Ships need to be banned and not allowed.
How can a Chinese made cheap mask be real?? Support the local Craftspeople! And stop those awful cruise ships! Ugly things..plus the damage they cause..
But it makes quick bucks, what is what people want.
The canal smell like sewage.
@@PaulaJBean Short sighted. {money now at cost off ruining city long term}..Venice is now like London in that tourism is 24/7 ..no off season any more.
primal mythic j CBC I’ll add
A squatting couple, one with a nose ring, not a good example of the Venice housing crisis. He says he doesn't have stable work, then we are told she's pregnant and they already have an 8 year old. Are you kidding; nobody feels sympathy for them nor should they. You do what all young people have to do, you move on to somewhere you can work, and use birth control! I feel for the elderly of Venice being forced out, they should be first priority. They will have to have restrictions on these places, they do in other places. Some destinations are a two year waiting list! They need to stop the Airbnbs, they did in NashvilleTN and this is America!
@Dwaine Castle It's not their home if they are squatters. Get a grip.
Far leftists squatters that don't have a proper job but want housing for free. Venice it's not an easy city for living, economic crises and isolated from the main land. Actually the tourism save the city from disappear. Even though the cruises are hell and should be banned indeed.
I am one of the last Venetian. We are not even more 53k and something residents. I am one of those numbers however, I don't live in Venice anymore. Our major won't save Venice. (What a shame for me being represented by him) But you can help! Come to visit her, take your time. Keep the city clean and tidy, respect her. Speak to the Venetians, learn from them and hear them stories. Get Lost in every street instead of slouching around like dumb and slow sheep. Respect the rules and our culture. I saw men peeing on the ancient buildings, kids on a trip, left on their own having a picnic just around the corner of Rialto square, families having brunch in St. Mark Square, last time a woman was changing her baby's nappy on the floor in the city centre. I could stay hours writing. Because, yes we still exist. Venice is alive and is not a movie or a fantasy setting from Game of Thrones. There are people living and running to work, to school, to the gym, to the cinema, if we are still gonna be lucky to have one in the future. This world is just being swallowed by tourism. Is this tourism? I don't see any interest in most of the tourists' behavior in Venice. We all should learn to be more respectful and educated when we decide to go out from our little garden. It's like going to the swimming pool without sunscreen. You should now you could get sunburn so why you shouldn't use the protection? Be a tourist, be respectful, be sensitive. And remember to keep the right when you are on the calle (street in Venice).
The reporter stated that the Chinese tourists are part of the problem but the bus that went right past her had Korean on it.
paul, good point. She should have said "Asians." LOL! And all tourists, apparently.
@@CatherineSTodd That and the other point is, if she is an example of the loads of busses visiting Venice during the day. Then how does that account for the overload of tourists renting entire flats so that landlords kick out faithful renters? Look, I live in Los Angeles, California and I went to a school high school that is now over thirty percent asian. I never mix Japanese, Chinese, Koreans or others and all I really have to do is listen to the words being said and the mannerisms, which are a cultural thing. The outright fraud committed by the tour company should be exposed but I guess that a company, which has it's base in China, gets away with only three hours of Venice rather than an entire day?
China is turning Indigenous culture into Theme parks with Disney artifice...and the locals are under suspicion or worse. Globalism hates identity and indigenous cultures or religion...unless they can be cash cows for corporations. I expect to see a Vatican Park called Disney Historical Christianityland....no praying allowed.
Actually....that park is already there.
I think it is late. My sister lives in Venice in an 18th century palace, fortunately outside the main tourists current. It is a disgrace that a glorious town, built on artificial islands, with a careful management of currents and tides, now is dying for the profit of foreign and national enterpreneurs and millions of persons who walk and know nothing of the story, the glory, the knowlege from centuries of development and improvement. For money, for tourism, for thash.
@Marrowbones In my sister's case it's her husband's property, restaured according to the ancient techniques.
@Marrowbones It's a three storey house, ground floor rented to a musician, the upper two the family quarters.
@Marrowbones I believe so, a pianist but I never asked my sister. I will the next time I talk to her.
Sadly, a worldwide problem, especially in popular cities or where a new industry (i.e. IT or tourism) has formed. The city will want the locals as cleaners, cooks etc but they won't ever be able to afford it as they're competing against big business and aligned government interest which will keep the rent, taxes and costs high, albeit possibly unintentionally in some instances. The rich always eat the poor.
I sympathize with Venice's plight of too many tourists. But, I laugh at the absurd spin placed on charging tourists an entry fee. It is a tax - acknowledge it and move on. But, starting at 25:23, the mayor denies it's a tax and instead calls it a 'right of contribution'.
The locals complain about the tourist. If tourism is gone from Venice, they will be out of a job.
Absolutely not. Venice, just like any other awesome cities was built through centuries of hardwork by its citizens. For centuries venice have been an important trading hub that connect italia and the rest of mediteranean cities. It also the center of shipbuilding industry of italia. Now, venice actually have a huge oil refinery and petro chemical industry.
There will be no one to do the work left.
i think they re complaining of massive tourism that s there for a few hours and do not spend any money there. it makes sense to charge a contribution if you do not spend a few days there. it s hard on infrastructure. just imagine the sewer system!
I have lived in Venice for short time in my life. After that i have totally different vision and feeling of Venice. I am with Venecians... they have right to protect theyr beautiful town! To protect theyr identity! They have right to live theyr own life!
I love Venice most! Before Athos.
This city had its real charm... identity, and spirituality.
And i have seen how Venecians really are disturbed cause of tourists...
I was happy to get to city first trough water... it is like miracle! City rising out of water!
But i understand the problems. I still live in Venice in my mind... i still walk on its streets. I am against cruise ships. I am truly with Venecians! You have right to speak and protect Venecia!
What the heck is the reporters obsession with the Chinese ?
I've never visited Venice and I dearly wish to, but I wouldn't want it to die just because theres too many of us. I hope their government can regulate heavily the intake of tourists, even if its harder and more expensive to go, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it deserves it
The city is built on a marsh which has been constantly sinking. Archeologist have found numerous levels of the structures under the current levels. As the bottom stories flood, Venetians for centuries would fill up the ground floor of their house or business and build a new story on top of the current top floor. While the ground floors are always eventually lost, the buildings always maintain their capacity, because a new floor sprouts on their tops. It is likely that building codes and preservation requirements in modern times may be interfering with this process.
Rubbish - 1. the land is not marsh, the lagoon is formed of an igneous rock archipelago; Venice is built on stone, not dirt. 2. You would assume if the ground were sinking to such a degree then so would the bottom of the canals, having been to Venice more than once (and been on many-a walking tour) I can tell you the smaller canals (those most heavily surrounded by buildings) are still 12 -18 inches deep; not to mention many of the more impressive buildings in Venice are not only old, but still as constructed (no new dome on the cathedral!)
The sinking is due to rock erosion, a process that has taken millennia to manifest, as stated in the video, 15cm (6 inches) of sinking, a process that is being hastened by sea level rises and water turbulence due to cruise ships entering the lagoon.
No. Venice was built on mostly marshy islands. The geology of the area consists of silt from the rivers which had emptied into the lagoon area. I know of no igneous strata anywhere near the surface. The islands and the base of the lagoon are alluvium with no igneous intrusions.
What you see as a "stone" base are stones which were laid on the top of wood pilings driven into the mud. The Venetians used this method, the Dutch used this method and I live about 60 miles from New Orleans, LA and this method is used in New Orleans and the surrounding area.
In all likely hood, the material at the bottom of the canals has come from waste from the city and some coastal runoff.
The sinking outside of sea level rise has been caused by three factors (1) industries pulling water out of the aquifers, (2) effects of plate tectonics which even though generally results in an upward rise in this general area (the Alps) has in the Venice locale has caused a slight toward tilt and (3) the continued compaction of the sediments which are increased to by the weight of the structures. The large scale pumping of the water from the aquifers has been stopped which has slowed the subsistence.
Many of the large building are old and were built on a proper foundation at a decent height to offset sinking caused bu settling compaction. Many of the structures built before this when the compaction rate was more rapid and with poor foundations sank faster.
Dirt is not being eroded from under the buildings. The foundations and pilings are very deep.
I agree, the large ships should not be in the lagoon, but mainly because of pollution, the crowding out effect and ruining the ambience. Tourists should be loaded onto trains from ships away from the lagoons.
@@mbdxgdb2
@@lewisdoherty7621What you say is correct and you have put it better than I have ,clearly a knowledge person .One only needs to read on the subject to see you are absolutely correct .
Trading future for money is the theme of this day and age. It's not only Venice that will be gone in a decade or two.
This is all leftist media bullshit. According to 11:40, there's $9 billion per year from tourists. That's more than enough to fix all the infrastructure issues in Venice. So, the question is what is the government really doing with that income? Something is not right.
Riitta Puhjo well said!
I visited Bali a few months ago and it was over run with tourists and motorcycles. Lovely locals but I will not go back because of the huge crowds
@@MaximGhost sorry bro... Only earn 9 billion... Need 8.999 billion to line up ny pockets first bro....really no money at all to repair venice.... Very sorry
Italy govt.
Mass tourism is destroying our planet and Richard Branson helps that. He wants mass tourism into space.
every country should learn from Bhutan how to optimise they profit in tourism, without sacrificing they value. Every year, Bhutan only allowed limited tourist into they country (last year is the highest with 250,000), you need to pay USD250 per day for each person, which make Bhutan is the most expensive country to visit.
All the profit will directly funded for education (literacy rate in Bhutan is 60%) and others social development. By implementing this policies, Bhutan can maintain they carbon rate and transparency in public fund handling.
The 250$ fee does not apply to all countries though. Most, not all.
@@vrajasenan : Carolos said the country of Bhutan charges $250.00 per day. He did not say "all countries" or "most countries." What other countries are you referring to? This "tourist tax" is a wonderful idea especially to fund education and more. More places need to do this!
@@CatherineSTodd I know that. I was just providing additional information. I wasn't against anything when I made that comment.
I went to Venice in 01’ they said by 2020 the first floor of the city would be gone.
That angel story was told to us by the local tour guide...
9 months to go... I think he was a little off.
Sad but not surprising. The whole world is run by people's selfishness, greed and ignorance. A handful of people who actually care about making things better sadly can't make a big difference before everything gets ruined.
Venice was an "amusement park" back in Napoleon's day. It became the Las Vegas of Europe after the Venetian Empire disappeared. Horse has bolted man.
I say, pave it all over and build a new Venice.
@@PaulaJBean or move The Venetian in Vegas there and just plunk it down somewhere!
I think 'mass tourism' and the selfie culture is really taking a toll on the past time of travel and the places we all MUST see. I went to Iceland last year and felt it was at times overcrowded by selfie taking tourists. I also live in Seattle and I'm not equating Seattle with Venice mind you, but we do have a huge tourist industry and I have found over these many years that even we get the overwhelming crush at our local sites. We aren't sinking, however.
It is now destroying Iceland and we just keep hauling crowds on the cruise liners to the Arctic where polar bears have to be shot to death because of irresponsible cruise liners. Humans are the worst.
One of the significant issues nobody has yet raised is about the Schengen policy of the European Union (which is the entire freedom of movement in Europe), which collides with limiting the number of tourists in Venice. In short, the city council and the Italian government cannot create maximum daily accesses for the city. Furthermore, as an Italian, I'm saddened mainly by two reasons: the first is that Italians visit Venice less frequently, because of the mass tourism; the second one is the fact that many tourists (externally from Europe) believe Venice as a Disneyland. In Italy, we were too lascivious in the past to allow creating this type of communication (look at the various Casinos in Las Vegas and their stereotypical vision about Venice).
the least that ABC News could do is send an Australian reporter who can speak Italian, for heaven's sake...
Agreed. I would love to see Danial Ricardo doing this video.
That would be sooo helpful for the Australian audience who of course are all fluent in Italian.
i'm from Venice, Born and raised, it's really sad knowing how it was and seeing how it is now, when i was a kid every streets where triving with shops for the locals, glassmakers, drugstres, toy shops, now it's all been replaced by souvenirs shop owned by chinese people, building and architecture are barely standing, every Carnival tourists leave a mess between broken bottles and garbage, restaurants are owned by foreigners and they hire locals for fooling costumers into think it's genuine venetian cousine.
Went to Venice in the off season and it was still ruined by tourists. I felt bad seeing what was happening because of what I and everyone else was doing to the place.
I pray that the Italians make some brave decision to save Venice and the heart of that city: the local Venicians. 120,000 local people three decades ago and now only around 55,000!
Venice is quite easily one of the most magical cities I've ever visited. Viva la Venezia!
Asking for it by allowing any number of situations to exist, opposed to proper regulations addressing the base of the issues.
Sedona, Arizona has them on the lumen strength of lights outside after a certain time, curbing urban light pollution for everything in the area. Its a nice and common sense solution to an issue many cities face, other cities should take note and act according to their needs or benefit.
Bella Venezia!!!
Vancouver is close behind. Of all property in BC, 48% foreign investment owned.
The number of tourist's and Cruise Ships is responsible for the damage to Venice and much more so than the water.
I went to venice in the late 80s.
It was VERY expensive then....i can't even imagine now.
@forever0042000
Imagine 2 coffees in St. Mark's!!!!!!!!!!!
You can get by if you know which places to go. Just avoid places in and around st mark.
I’m afraid it needs to be expensive, much more expensive, to keep people who aren’t prepared to spend money on hotels and goods out. The city was expensive from the start; it always cost a fortune to build there and everything was imported. But it is astonishing, and to experience such wonder should not be cheap.
@@gaetanchevanier6600
We camped and got pretty merry on Chianti in nearby Mestre. (Huge pile of empty bottles.) And went in daily!
It's the industrial work at M. with the abstraction of ground water, that is contributing to the subsidence of the city.
Air Bnb... needs federal regulations.
Like FB, GOOGLE, UBER, LYFT... NEEDS state, local n federal regulations.
billy kobilca stop using them
I've seen this happening at home in New Zealand. Why should landlords bother to get their buildings up to the new health standards for leasing to tenants when they can turn it into an Air BnB and dodge that while earning more?
AirBNB is the new global landlord.
ban airbnb access, or make the police close the website
I live in Prague, and the historic center of the city has been going the way of Venice over last two decades.... local life dying. Historic center being transformed into ´romantic facade´ populated by the tourist hordes. I rather avoid the historic center during the peak tourist months.
Tourism is a great thing, but it can actually destroy soul of the place if there is too much of it.
wait, you have been squatting, as in living rent free for EIGHT years, and you haven't saved up enough for a security deposit yet?
Too many cruise ships? Just import some pirates! Problem solved...
Somali pirates. Arrrr!!
Venice is a beautiful city which has, over the last few years, GONE OUT OF IT'S WAY TO INCREASE TOURISM. For example, millions has been spent on the local international airport (Marco Polo) which has just completed stage 1 of a redevelopment and expansion program, with stage 2 scheduled for completion during the next decade.
Links from the mainland via the Ponte della Liberta (a road and rail bridge) have also been developed vastly increasing car, bus and coach traffic. For example, when I first visited Venice years ago I was told that the coach that crossed over from the mainland to take me to the airport wasn't allowed to stop for more than a few minutes to collect passengers. Now, however, there's a large coach park at Piazzale Roma, with adjacent car parks. A new purpose-built footbridge connects this area to the railway station which has also been upgraded, and adjacent streets have also been transformed.
The city authorities have dredged the lagoon and constructed massive cruise ship terminals with docking areas for some of the larger ships (96 thousand tons max). Cruise ships were responsible for conveying 1.5 million passengers into the city in 2015 alone.
The city authorities have also changed regulations regarding accommodation. For example in 1999 new legislation, (Le Leggi Sul Bed and Breakfast Come Aprire un B&B in Veneto) led to an explosion in the number of B&Bs, and the number of hotels has also increased. Each hotel charges up to 5 Euros per night "City Tax" (a levy for staying in the hotel, payable to the city).
Now the Mayor wants to charge an "access tax" (to be introduced this summer) because all of the tourists he and his predecessors have encouraged to come to the city aren't spending enough money....rather like charging an entry fee to Disneyland. What a f**king joke!
With all of this in mind I find the attitude of some of the locals truly amazing. This is one of a number of internationally made documentaries I've seen in recent months featuring Venetians highlighting the plight of Venice as if we, the non-Italians, are able to do something about it. Why are Venetians harassing tourists in cruise ships, and complaining to the international press, rather than lobbying their elected officials as they are the people WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CHANGES? Better still, stop wasting time doing these interviews AND STAND FOR OFFICE.
Every bus (coach) load of tourists HAS to stop at Tronchetto and transfer to some type of marine vehicle (waterbus) that transfers them across the lagoon to those docks to the right of San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs. There are still city busses that make the way across to the Main train station from Mestre. I usually train it. Faster and more convenient.
Very fine investigative report! The Venitians' situation is sad.
Um...if there are unoccupied rental units, why are the rents so high? That doesn't make sense at all.
I do hope the money from the tourist fee helps restore venezia and not go into the hands of corrupt politicians.
Well your living in cloud cuckoo land if you think it,s going anywhere near restoration works for Venice all me me and me again .
should hire the dutch for your water problem
@@enniopaone don't bury your head in the sand and blame the tourists. The people of the Netherlands know how to keep the sea at bay. As long as greed with your politicians exists then there well be a problem. Do you live in a dictatorship? The world is getting more crowded everybody wants to see everything that's nice, it is a reality we have live with.
@@enniopaone cool I'm English.
The titanic sized cruise ships are ridiculous to be trying to go into Venice. Venice is such a sweet place. It is quiet, romantic, flavorful and rich in history--other than some smaller taxi boats, it is a nice place to get away from cars etc. would never want to add a huge cruise ship and smell all of the nasty exhaust in the small canal ways--yuck!
Yep! Shouldn't be allowed. We were in a gondola and a huge cruise ship was coming in... ridiculous!
We have some of the same issue here in Belize especially with the mega cruise ships and who really gets a share...
I have dreamt of living in Venice for a year or more, to find my "artistic soul." Now I am not so sure. So terrible to see what is happening with tourism, cruise ships and AirBnB! I use AirBnB all the time, but did not realize the damage it too is causing.
Oh, My. What to do? Where to go? Surely the artists will relocate to beautify the world as they always do! "The world is made by artists, and art makes life worth living." ~ Catherine Todd
i was in venice a few years ago and it made my artistic soul very sad. it felt like a shell of what it once was and i spent the entire time mourning the venice of the past that i will never be able to experience. it feels like it's lost its soul to tourism, but its only real purpose/source of income at the moment is tourism. it's a paradox. i really, really hope it comes back.
Airbnb has also drastically increased the rent prices in SF (one of the major reasons anyway).
No amount of money/tourist tax can fix this. Limit or just ban all those cruise ships entering port. Dock them all in Rome or somewhere else and go by train. I've been there more than 10 years ago and it's still the same issue. Where there is money greed follows.
ABC could have stayed in Melbourne and done this same video in any major city
Yes, at any time the population of Melbourne is 800% tourist.
@@martinda7446 true but Melbourne isn't sinking
@@themorela32 That is where you are wrong. Melbourne is 2cm lower than it was last year. You both look lovely by the way.
What a joke...you ridicule and insult the tourists that are the only thing bringing in any serious revenue. You should be ashamed.
A little glimpse in the future, if there is no prevention when a place become in international tourist place to visit, this can be a small manual what to do in case of something didn't go as everybody thought. the culture can become appeal for foreigners, but only love can protect this doesn't dissappear in time.
I love venice. Everything is accessible to tourists like me. (For a price) even churches
One of my life goals is to one day visit Venice but out of respect for its native citizens I won't. I know what is to live in a country with tons of tourist coming in every year. 😟😟
I agree...refrain from consuming and taking selfies...watch the beautiful BBC film of Vivaldi's Gloria. The masterpiece was written for the choir of a girl's school in Venice.
The tourist will tear it up and leave the citizens with the mess to deal with.
Just like how the English come to Barcelona and shit all over the streets after getting drunk and high. No wonder why people are getting upset. My heart goes to the locals who have to endure this stupidity.
We lived in Bologna, about 1.5 hours away. Venice is a fantastic city, but it was so crowded, expensive, and touristy that we rarely went, except for the occasional daytrip off season. That was in 2000. I bet it's much worse now.
Robert Crawford it is beautiful in winter
Why do they insist on calling an entry fee it a tax? It's more or less the same as when you are going to the museum or something.
I like the ship was called celebrity SILHOUETTE , nice irony .
@Chackobrack it's shadowy Silhouette all over the buildings . Silhouette against backdrop
Is the sea level rising or is Italy sinking or a little of both.
@Not Q 😀😁😂😃😄😅😆😉😎
Squatting for 8 Years!!!
You would think that would be enough time and money saved to put towards a new place
24:25 "buongiorno"
"Buongiorno!"
"Viva Venezia !"
"Viva!"
Germany DW documentary did this same documentary on Venice a year ago.
@@paltielbenyamin1273 I dont know about sea level changes, but I know that this Australian Broadcasting Network is also worried about Venice and its struggles by broadcasting to an Australian audience as well to find support of a issue we all must help to minimize.
@@paltielbenyamin1273 Agreed. No to cruise liner pirates. Corrupt Venetian government members and GREED
However, that DW documentary was taken down. Maybe it projected an inconvient truth?
@@PaulaJBean th-cam.com/video/aHNWZ018ln8/w-d-xo.html
And the mayor said with a straight face "is no tax, is a contribution" lol
We could call it a virtually-optional donation.
17:10 say whaaaaaat? Italian politicians being corrupt?? Who has ever heard of anything as ludicrous as that!
Italian politicians being corrupt is as inevitable as Balkan countries getting in to feuds.
Seriously
To little to late.
Venice needs to grow some balls and stop those cruise liners from coming anywhere near this city.
As for day trippers bussed in well hit them with a 50 euro per day fee.
This city is sacred so respect it!
I try to visit Venice 2 or 3 times a year. The biggest problem to the city is definitely the cruise ships. The day I arrived in June 2017, there were SIX massive cruise ships docked at Tronchetto at the same time! It was ridiculous. The tiny medieval alleyways were crammed full of people, most holding selfie sticks as they walked, shouting abuse at innocent others who happened to knock them as they rushed by, trying to keep up with their guide - “Do you mind??!” .... “Watch where you’re going!!!”
Ban cruise ships from La Serenissima. The hoards of tourists vomited out by those things is appalling. They have breakfast on the ship, spend a few hours destroying the city (backpacks scraping against 700 year old walls, sneaking flash photos in churches etc), then return to the ship for lunch and leave in the afternoon - leaving behind truckloads of rubbish on the tiny streets. They spend €0.00 in Venice, contribute nothing to the city, just ruin it for those who love and respect her.
The “admission charge” is a great idea. I read those who stay overnight in the historic centre are exempt, as we already pay a visitor tax (which I gladly pay). The money raised goes towards cleaning up the filth left behind by the inconsiderate millions who don’t care about where they are.
Interestingly, if you walk 15 or 20 minutes from San Marco, even in peak season, you find yourself alone in some quite campo of peace and silence. And if you buy the churches pass that gets you into all churches (€15 for 1 year), you’ll be the only one inside, as everyone else doesn’t want to pay €3 to in!! Those millions of tourists really are that tight, they want everything for free.
Finally, there are affordable hotels in the historic centre that are not Airbnb. And there are cheap places to eat as well. You just need to work hard at finding them. (I’m definitely a pauper, but I can find ways to afford to go there often!)
And great job, ABC, for showing Venice exactly as it is. Trust us Aussies to show it, warts and all. Bravo!
Viva Venezia!
Venice is such a beautiful, captivating city. All must be done to save her.
They should copy Boracay. Limit the number of tourist.
i went to Venice in 1970 and loved it.I would not go back now .Crowds and suffocation of local character,housing and livelihoods are not appealing.It's a theme park experience.
Aren't those tourists bothered at all by the crowds?The locals certainly are!
I can learn more by watching programs re the city and its rich cultural heritage,
Some there are working on ways to be less dependent on tourist dollars.and to preserve local businesses and housing.
More power to them!
Venetians won't be driven out, if their government wasn't so corrupt. Many tourist towns deal with AirBnB by outlawing short-term rentals. Get caught and the fine in places like Banff, Alberta, Canada is $5,000. Do it enough times and you lose your residency and right to own property in the town.
Same story around the world. My family has been in my area for generations but we are priced out now. Cruise ships should be banned altogether. Especially in Venice.
This beautiful city needs to be saved.
ive seen it happen in alot of towns, when the number of tourists far exceed the number of locals, the town no longer has a soul. it becomes an indifferent place where no one really tries to connect anymore. Destin, FL. is like that. Monteray bay in California, beautiful town that is engulfed with tourists. These towns become dumping grounds for people that are there for a few days, so they consume, and shit, and eat, and throw out more trash, and then go home. Its just sad for locals. But ironically, its usually the fault of the local politicians and mayors that are for sell and don't care.
Who are these Landlords? It's horrible. And those Ships coming in is absolutely crazy.
Venice is absolutely incredible. I've observed cruise day trippers munching on prepacked snacks from the ship. I'd venture to guess the majority of them have no interest in spending money throughout the city. Yes, the prices in a lot of establishments around the square are inflated, but no more so than any other tourist destination. When we travel, we stay in local hotels, eat in local Osterias, and pay for quality souvenirs. I would no issues paying an access fee. Laurie Huntley is correct, the citizens have every right to decide who they allow in AND how those access fees are distributed.
With the world's population at 7.5 billion, there are lots of people traveling than before. I visited Hong Kong and Macau last month, tour operators were everywhere shuffling crowds of tourists to no end. It was so crowded that the backdrops of most of my photos there were huge crowds of people. Locals in Macau and Hong Kong are upset by the swarms of tourists too but at least the governments there are very effective in reaping the profits from tourism while managing the developments in infrastructure and economic growth. Although citizens in Hong Kong & Macau aren't too happy with their governments due to the massive tourists, but they are kept busy by gainful employment. Unlike Venice, unemployment is real low in HK & Macau and it's very easy to find a job. May be Venice can learn from Hong Kong & Macau on how to deal with airbnb.
It’s also happening in Venice CA!
Its sk sad. The people that live there don't get that small town feel anymore. They can't just go down the street and run into old friends because there are so many new faces each day.
Only half of their salary goes to rent? They should consider themselves LUCKY, cuz things are much more expensive here in San Jose, Calif (the capital of Silicon Valley) ...
Branon, you're right. I paid 90% of my salary in rent in the Bay Area. Ate zucchini tacos for 3 weeks at a time.
Yeah here in NY metro too
Well the truth is that the vast majority of anyone who actually live in Venice proper is rich enough to relocate anywhere, the folks who service those rich folks all live in that less than beautiful real city that surrounds Venice . I lived in Fanna/Maniago for 10 yrs. About 45 min drive from Venice. It is indeed actually a bit like Disney land and ofcourse it's gonna be rendered completely uninhabitable by sea level rise but so will most coastal areas worldwide including NYC all in less than 60yrs.
Why do we sympathize with squatters now? LOL. Yes we need more people to actually live in Venice... but squatters... no.
And blaming "the Chinese"... is just pathetic. Of course there are a lot people around Chinese New Year. Not to mention some of the buses you videoed have Korean words on them.
Why don't have some real proposal: (1) charge higher tourism fees, (2) build a cruise ship terminal outside the islands, (3) fix rental laws to encourage local renters and possibly subsidize.
4. build a dam around Venice to control the water level.
These DF actually think chinese use airb&b. Chinese has way more respect to venice than the American. The renaissance Chinese tried to sail to venice but failed. Chinese still trade silk for glass. On top of that Chinese actually acknowledge global warming and try stop venice sinking into the sea.
There is nothing more obscene or perverted than to see a cruise ship ported alongside Venis
Please save Venice for future generations, and for Venetians. Stop these cruise ships and limit tourists. =(