Latest news with #VisitItaly
Skift
3 hours ago
- Skift
A Social Media Message for Tourists in Italy: You've Only Seen 1%
The new campaign comes at a critical moment, as protests against overtourism are on the rise, particularly in Southern Europe. An independent site called Visit Italy is trying a new effort to counter overtourism: From June 23 to July 1, the campaign will publish videos on Instagram and TikTok from the most crowded and popular Italian cities: Florence, Naples, Rome, the Cinque Terre, and Venice. Called "99% of Italy," the idea is to expose travelers to less popular parts of the country. The vast majority is overlooked and 'has not gone viral but holds extraordinary stories,' said Ruben Santopietro, CEO of Visit Italy, which is not affiliated with ENIT, Italy's national tourism board. Santopietro warns that without a rebalanced approach, 'Venice could turn into a lifeless backdrop, Rome into a parking lot for tour buses and Florence into a stage set for selfies.' The campaign 'does not reject tourism,' Santopietro told Skift, but 'challenges how we think about it. True sustainability means balancing both,' he said. 'When residents lose quality of life, travelers lose meaning too.' Still from Visit Italy overtourism campaign The videos feature locals and travelers holding handwritten signs. One example: 'This isn't all of Italy. It's just what made it to Instagram.' Referencing a TEDx talk he gave last month, Santopietro said: "We are living in what we might call the Checklist Era of travel, where people rush from place to place collecting photos, not experiences. Italy is feeling the consequences." The launch comes as tensions around overtourism rise across Europe. In recent weeks, residents in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Venice have taken to the streets in protest, calling for tighter restrictions on short-term rentals, limits on cruise ship arrivals, and action to protect local communities from the economic and social strain of mass tourism. Among the destinations being supported through broader strategy efforts at Visit Italy are Arezzo, Tropea, Genoa, Northern Sardinia, Courmayeur, Livigno and other small towns. 'One in three Italian municipalities is at risk of depopulation,' Santopietro said. 'In many of these places, tourism is no longer just an opportunity. It's the last remaining tool to build a local, human economy.' Visit Italy relaunched its site in April and, as part of its other efforts to combat overtourism, made prominent on the home page "hidden gems" as a way to encourage travelers to spread out around the country. 'These are not backups or alternatives,' Santopietro said. 'They are the other side of Italy's identity and they deserve to be seen, understood and valued.' Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify that Visit Italy is not affiliated with ENIT, Italy's national tourism board.
Skift
9 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Italy's Overtourism Campaign, Trump's Student Visa Rules and Ritz-Carlton's New Cruise Ship
On today's pod we look at Italy's push to expand tourists' bucket lists, Trump's student social media interrogations, and Ritz-Carlton's latest yacht. Skift Daily Briefing Podcast Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Skift Travel Podcasts Good morning from Skift. It's Thursday, June 26. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. Italy has launched a new national tourism campaign aimed at combating overtourism, writes Global Tourism and Experiences Reporter Jade Wilson. The goal of the campaign — called '99% of Italy' — is to expose travelers to less popular parts of the country. About 70% of international travelers converge on just 1% of the country, according to Visit Italy. CEO Ruben Santopietro said that, without a rebalanced approach, Venice could turn into a lifeless backdrop while Rome could become a parking lot for tour buses. The campaign comes as tensions around overtourism rise across Europe. Residents in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Venice have called for tighter restrictions on short-term rentals and limits on cruise ship arrivals. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, the U.S. State Department is requiring applicants for student visas to make all their social media accounts public for vetting, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Maharishi reports the requirement only pertains to those applying for student visas. The State Department recently said it would resume interviews for international students but with enhanced social media vetting. The department stated student visa applicants have been required since 2019 to submit their social media accounts on application forms. However, applicants weren't required before to make their accounts public. Finally, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is ramping up its presence at sea with the launch of a new ship in July, writes Hospitality Reporter Luke Martin. The Ritz-Carlton said on Wednesday that its third vessel, Luminara, will debut in the Mediterranean before sailing past Africa and across the Indian Ocean. In addition, the brand's first Asia-Pacific cruises are set to begin in December as Luminara will embark on a slate of 19 voyages, including new ports for the Ritz-Carlton across Southeast and East Asia.
Skift
a day ago
- Skift
Visit Italy's Message to Tourists: You've Only Seen 1%
The new campaign comes at a critical moment, as protests against overtourism are on the rise, particularly in Southern Europe. Visit Italy has launched a new national tourism campaign aimed at countering overtourism. From June 23 to July 1, the campaign will publish videos on Instagram and TikTok from the most crowded and popular Italian cities: Florence, Naples, Rome, the Cinque Terre, and Venice. Called "99% of Italy," the idea is to expose travelers to less popular parts of the country. According to Visit Italy, around 70% of international travelers converge on just 1% of the country. The vast majority is overlooked and 'has not gone viral but holds extraordinary stories,' said Ruben Santopietro, CEO of Visit Italy. It is Italy's first national campaign directly addressing the imbalance of visitor flows. Santopietro warns that without a rebalanced approach, 'Venice could turn into a lifeless backdrop, Rome into a parking lot for tour buses and Florence into a stage set for selfies.' Still from Visit Italy overtourism campaign The campaign 'does not reject tourism,' Santopietro told Skift, but 'challenges how we think about it. True sustainability means balancing both,' he said. 'When residents lose quality of life, travelers lose meaning too.' The videos feature locals and travelers holding handwritten signs. One example: 'This isn't all of Italy. It's just what made it to Instagram.' Referencing a TEDx talk he gave last month, Santopietro said: "We are living in what we might call the Checklist Era of travel, where people rush from place to place collecting photos, not experiences. Italy is feeling the consequences." Critical Moment for the Campaign The launch comes as tensions around overtourism rise across Europe. In recent weeks, residents in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Venice have taken to the streets in protest, calling for tighter restrictions on short-term rentals, limits on cruise ship arrivals, and action to protect local communities from the economic and social strain of mass tourism. Among the destinations being supported through broader strategy efforts at Visit Italy are Arezzo, Tropea, Genoa, Northern Sardinia, Courmayeur, Livigno and other small towns. 'One in three Italian municipalities is at risk of depopulation,' Santopietro said. 'In many of these places, tourism is no longer just an opportunity. It's the last remaining tool to build a local, human economy.' Visit Italy relaunched its site in April and, as part of its other efforts to combat overtourism, made prominent on the home page "hidden gems" as a way to encourage travelers to spread out around the country. 'These are not backups or alternatives,' Santopietro said. 'They are the other side of Italy's identity and they deserve to be seen, understood and valued.'
