Logo_Service & Tourism: Current Challenges_eng

Spatial Organization of Tourism and Hospitality

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2026)

VENICE: PROBLEMS OF OVERTOURISM AND TURISMOPHOBIA AND WAYS TO SOLVE THEM

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22412/2414-9063-2026-20-2-205-213
Submitted
June 2, 2026
Published
May 13, 2026

Abstract

The article explores the history of Venice in the field of tourism – ​the path from power to entertainment, from romance to a global brand. Today, one of the largest centers of international tourism is on the verge of a new stage: Venice is trying to find the optimal solution that will allow it to profit from tourism without sacrificing its unique cultural and natural heritage. A city that has been selling its beauty for centuries must now learn how to protect it in order to preserve it for future generations. The phenomenal rise and historical transience of medieval Venice are still of scientific interest, and the author attributes its decline to economic and foreign policy factors. The image of Venice – ​a city on the water, the pearl of the Adriatic, where art and history are inseparable from life – ​beckons with its romance. However, behind this facade lies a deep crisis caused by mass tourism, which, while desirable, has also become disastrous. Venice, once thriving on tourism, is now facing a challenge: how to preserve its uniqueness without rejecting visitors? The problem of tourism in this city is a global challenge: How to balance the right to travel and the need to protect fragile cultural heritage? The increase in the number of residents and tourists in Venice is directly correlated with the growth of garbage and the increasing strain on the city’s infrastructure. At the same time, the preservation of its unique cultural heritage, which is of global significance, is being undermined by both acts of vandalism and the natural wear and tear caused by the massive influx of tourists. The environmental situation in the lagoon is a cause for serious concern, as its fragile ecosystem is under threat. In addition to addressing the current challenges facing Venice, the article also presents the results of a study aimed at solving these problems. The future of the city is inextricably linked to finding a balance between attracting tourists and preserving its unique identity. Saving Venice is a task that requires synergy, from thoughtful governance to the conscious choices of every tourist.

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