The old town of Venice threatens to disappear under the pressure of mass tourism. In Venice, the number of tourist beds exceeded the number of residents in September 49,693 to 49,304announced the associations Ocio and Venessia.com based on data from the city registry office.
The number increased from April to early September Beds in holiday apartments and hotels around 1,097. O population fell on top 61.
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Residents as a minority
From 1997 to 2022, the historic center has an average of 2.4 inhabitants per day lost, so Matteo Secchifounder of the association Venessia.com, which is committed to combating the depopulation of the lagoon city.
“The city no longer belongs to us, we are a minority, there are fewer of us and there are more and more tourists. Venice runs the risk of becoming a large hotel without residents,” Secchi warned, according to media reports.
Half over 60 years old
Secchi complained: “The policy, both local and national, that should protect us, is doing nothing. Protecting the residents means protecting Venice, because a city without residents has no future. If we continue as before, without doing something, Venice will soon No, it will no longer be a de facto city.”
Nearly half of those who still live in Venice over 60 years oldalmost 9,000 they are under 18 years old. The death rate is approximately three times higher than the birth rate.