#Venexodus fight to limit tourists to Venice
Hundreds of Venice residents have staged a protest against a rapid depopulation of the city, claimed to be caused by high rents, housing shortages and a growing tourism industry.
With many carrying suitcases in protest signifying being forced to leave, residents are demanding a limit on the tourist influx and more affordable housing to keep its dwindling population from dropping further. Venice’s population has dropped to under 55,000 from around 175,000 in 1951.
Meanwhile visitor numbers have seen a mass surge in the past 25 years, benefiting hoteliers and local operators as well as those who have chosen to sell or rent apartments to foreigners, according to newspaper reports.
“Tourism made us rich in the short term, but is killing us in the long term,” Matteo Secchi of community group Venessia.com said, news.com.au reports. “Too many no longer want to live in this city, they just want to exploit it, like a prostitute.”
As many as 60,000 tourists a day visit Venice in peak season, and recently backing protesters’ concern, UNESCO has threatened to reclassify Venice as “in danger” of losing its coveted World Heritage Site status.
Following the protests, the city’s mayor has proposed taxing day trippers to help deal with the problem.
“We are turning into Pompei, a town which people come to visit and say it’s magnificent, but no-one lives there,” Secchi said.
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