Can Venice save itself from its own popularity?

By Adrian Mourby, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 4:02 AM EDT, Wed July 5, 2017
<strong>Flooded by tourists: </strong> Experts say Venice is receiving more tourism -- about 30 million visitors a year -- than it can cope with.
Flooded by tourists: Experts say Venice is receiving more tourism -- about 30 million visitors a year -- than it can cope with.
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<strong>Unsustainable: </strong>"Venice now has a third of the inhabitants that it did in the 18th century -- just 50,000 -- yet it receives 30 million tourists a year," says Andrea Carandini, the head of the Italian Environment Fund.
Unsustainable: "Venice now has a third of the inhabitants that it did in the 18th century -- just 50,000 -- yet it receives 30 million tourists a year," says Andrea Carandini, the head of the Italian Environment Fund.
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<strong>Cruise ban: </strong>In 2015, a popular island-wide vote to ban cruise ships sailing along Venice's picturesque Guidecca Canal was overturned by the Regional Administrative Court, just three months after it came into law.
Cruise ban: In 2015, a popular island-wide vote to ban cruise ships sailing along Venice's picturesque Guidecca Canal was overturned by the Regional Administrative Court, just three months after it came into law.
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<strong>Protest against cruise ships: </strong>Locals believe that cruise shops and their passengers are ruining the canals and the city. This picture was taken during a protest in September 2013. Protesters use a boat to block cruise ships sailing through the Giudecca Canal.
Protest against cruise ships: Locals believe that cruise shops and their passengers are ruining the canals and the city. This picture was taken during a protest in September 2013. Protesters use a boat to block cruise ships sailing through the Giudecca Canal.
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<strong>Anti-tourism demonstration: </strong>People hold suitcases and signs in a protest against the increasing number of tourists in Venice in November 2016. It wasn't the first demonstration by the Venetians who are concerned about the overwhelming numbers of tourists in the city.
Anti-tourism demonstration: People hold suitcases and signs in a protest against the increasing number of tourists in Venice in November 2016. It wasn't the first demonstration by the Venetians who are concerned about the overwhelming numbers of tourists in the city.
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<strong>Proposed action: </strong>One of the solutions proposed by city mayor Luigi Brugnaro was to lure tourists away from areas that receive too many tourists like Riva degli Schiavoni, the historic quayside on which foreign visitors to Venice arrived until the railway bridge was built in 1846.
Proposed action: One of the solutions proposed by city mayor Luigi Brugnaro was to lure tourists away from areas that receive too many tourists like Riva degli Schiavoni, the historic quayside on which foreign visitors to Venice arrived until the railway bridge was built in 1846.
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<strong>Too expensive to live in: </strong>"Living in Venice is becoming more and more difficult," says Elena Scara who runs a hotel in Venice. "Shops such as grocery stores, butchers, bakeries and book shops are closing to leave space for souvenir shops, and because Venice is becoming more and more expensive."
Too expensive to live in: "Living in Venice is becoming more and more difficult," says Elena Scara who runs a hotel in Venice. "Shops such as grocery stores, butchers, bakeries and book shops are closing to leave space for souvenir shops, and because Venice is becoming more and more expensive."
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<strong>Avoid overcrowding:</strong> Cristiano Fortuna, general manager of L'Orologio Hotel on the Grand Canal, says a more effective way to control tourism is to encourage visitors to come on weekdays instead of just the weekends when overcrowding is particularly bad.
Avoid overcrowding: Cristiano Fortuna, general manager of L'Orologio Hotel on the Grand Canal, says a more effective way to control tourism is to encourage visitors to come on weekdays instead of just the weekends when overcrowding is particularly bad.
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<strong>Supporting Venetians</strong>: "The plan should be to manage tourism, impose higher tourist taxes, introduce tax breaks for small businesses and favour affordable housing: Venice needs the feet of residents on the ground, children playing in the campi, old codgers on benches -- a proper Italian city as we know it," says Jonathan Keates, chairman of the British charity Venice in Peril.
Supporting Venetians: "The plan should be to manage tourism, impose higher tourist taxes, introduce tax breaks for small businesses and favour affordable housing: Venice needs the feet of residents on the ground, children playing in the campi, old codgers on benches -- a proper Italian city as we know it," says Jonathan Keates, chairman of the British charity Venice in Peril.
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Big decisions ahead: </strong>The<strong> </strong>preservation of Venice will be discussed in July by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.