European city 'on brink of collapse' as mass tourism makes it 'unliveable'
Venetians are at their tether's end as the city teeters on the brink due to mass tourism, with "revolting" streets and "exorbitant prices" becoming commonplace. Venice, renowned for its stunning piazzas, palaces, and canals, draws in an estimated 30 million visitors each year.
The surge of tourists has sparked a myriad of issues, leading authorities to implement a €5 (£4.20) levy for day-trippers this summer. However, locals remain doubtful that this will mitigate the problems caused by the throngs who stay overnight.
Venice has been added to the list of 'do not travel' zones where tourists outnumber locals. Disgruntled Italians began voicing their complaints on Reddit last year.
A post from 2024 criticised the day-tripper tax: "How is the €5 tax supposed to help against tourist overcrowding in Venice?'Oh no, I spent hundreds of euros on travel and hotels to get there, but €5 is too much! I'm going back to Indonesia!'".
One commenter suggested that Venice has morphed into more of a "museum" than a living city. Another sarcastically remarked: "It's needed because Venice is a real city, it's not an attraction park where you pay a ticket to enter... Ah no wait.", reports the Mirror.
While one response defended the tax measure, it also expressed sorrow over Venice's predicament: "The main reason for this tax is to try to alleviate overcrowding in the city on days when the number of visitors reaches such high peaks that they become unsustainable both for the city and for the (few) remaining inhabitants."
A fiery post penned by a visitor from Milan, who travelled to Venice for an exhibition, expressed disappointment at the proliferation of shops selling "bulls**t" souvenirs. The post read: "There are no shops selling things that are actually needed by the locals. They have become so widespread that near the 'Londra Palace', one of the most luxurious hotels in Venice, there is a tourist shop next door."
Venetians also voiced their frustration. One local likened his city to an "amusement park" overrun with "junk shops", coining the term "Veniceland".
Another lamented: "Yes, the residents are virtually extinct. Mass tourism has killed the city."
Yet another resident bemoaned the city becoming "unliveable" due to "crazy prices", while others decried the "disgusting" state.
The daytripper tax was reintroduced in April 2025, ahead of the busy summer season, with the cost doubling for 'last-minute' bookings. Despite criticism that it was insufficient, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro defended the tax.
He stated: "We listened to citizens, to associations, to thousands of people, but in the end, there were no alternative solutions to ours.
"We thought to take this road of the controls, which were light enough, not invasive."
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Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Venetians are at their tether's end as the city teeters on the brink due to mass tourism, with "revolting" streets and "exorbitant prices" becoming commonplace. Venice, renowned for its stunning piazzas, palaces, and canals, draws in an estimated 30 million visitors each year. The surge of tourists has sparked a myriad of issues, leading authorities to implement a €5 (£4.20) levy for day-trippers this summer. However, locals remain doubtful that this will mitigate the problems caused by the throngs who stay overnight. Venice has been added to the list of 'do not travel' zones where tourists outnumber locals. Disgruntled Italians began voicing their complaints on Reddit last year. A post from 2024 criticised the day-tripper tax: "How is the €5 tax supposed to help against tourist overcrowding in Venice?'Oh no, I spent hundreds of euros on travel and hotels to get there, but €5 is too much! I'm going back to Indonesia!'". One commenter suggested that Venice has morphed into more of a "museum" than a living city. Another sarcastically remarked: "It's needed because Venice is a real city, it's not an attraction park where you pay a ticket to enter... Ah no wait.", reports the Mirror. While one response defended the tax measure, it also expressed sorrow over Venice's predicament: "The main reason for this tax is to try to alleviate overcrowding in the city on days when the number of visitors reaches such high peaks that they become unsustainable both for the city and for the (few) remaining inhabitants." A fiery post penned by a visitor from Milan, who travelled to Venice for an exhibition, expressed disappointment at the proliferation of shops selling "bulls**t" souvenirs. The post read: "There are no shops selling things that are actually needed by the locals. They have become so widespread that near the 'Londra Palace', one of the most luxurious hotels in Venice, there is a tourist shop next door." Venetians also voiced their frustration. One local likened his city to an "amusement park" overrun with "junk shops", coining the term "Veniceland". Another lamented: "Yes, the residents are virtually extinct. Mass tourism has killed the city." Yet another resident bemoaned the city becoming "unliveable" due to "crazy prices", while others decried the "disgusting" state. The daytripper tax was reintroduced in April 2025, ahead of the busy summer season, with the cost doubling for 'last-minute' bookings. Despite criticism that it was insufficient, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro defended the tax. He stated: "We listened to citizens, to associations, to thousands of people, but in the end, there were no alternative solutions to ours. "We thought to take this road of the controls, which were light enough, not invasive."
