While travelers can get a more authentic feel for local life, the growing influx of tourism can be overwhelming for the people who call Venice home. Regulations have been implemented to help curb tourism’s effect on the local community. The Italian government has capped tour group numbers in the city at 25 people, banned megaphones and no longer allow large cruise ships to dock in the heart of Venice. Camilla feels this is a start, but more could be done, like some of the regulation changes other cities have made around Airbnbs.
As a result of the growing crowds, many Venetians have opted to move away. The city’s population is in decline and, last year, reached 50,000—its lowest in 300 years. Camilla feels this pull, too. She loves showing people her city and working in tourism, but with a family to care for, the challenges of overcrowding and the soaring cost of living are hard to ignore.
Still, she knows if all the locals leave, the city may turn into a museum that exists only for visitors. For now, she’s content straddling two worlds—enjoying ‘small town’ life while working in the tourism sector. She takes pride in offering visitors a glimpse of the Venice they might otherwise miss, sharing a side of the city that’s close to her heart.
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You can see a different side of Venice in just a few hours and support the local community with Intrepid Urban Adventures’ Cicchetti & Wine Tour.
