Limiting tourist flows in Venice (press release

To the media and candidates for Mayor of Venice 2015 (and travel guides editor and all interested in the future of Venice):

PROJECT FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR VENICE

https://flussiturismo.wordpress.com/proposta/

Managing the people flow and the governance of tourism in Venice.

Hoping for Venice TO BECOME “a capital of sustainable tourism IN 2020 ”

For long time the city of Venice has been without a real and proper governance of tourism and this is why today, before it’s too late, it is indispensable to give solid answers and not vague electoral promises and, therefore a decisive plan is needed.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR VENICE BY MEANS OF AN ENTRY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS THE UTMOST PRIORITY TO SAVE THE VENETIAN HISTORICAL CENTER.

Candidates have to take on tangible tasks and DEFINE SOLUTIONS if they want to have a vote of confidence. Venetians are fed up with a non regulated tourism which damages the city WHICH IN TURN MAKES MOBILITY DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS TO CONDUCT TRADITIONAL DAILY ACTIVITIES and makes mobility difficult and in some areas even unlivable.

VENICE IS LOSING HER APPEAL DUE TO POOR MANAGEMENT OF THE VOLUME OF TOURISTS WHO VISIT OUR CITY. Loyal visitors who FOR DECADES HAVE ENJOYED HER CHARM NO LONGER identify with our city that has lost its soul and a centuries-old identity.

We need to regulate the waves of mass tourism which are OVERTAKING Venice, but how can we manage an increasing number of visitors in a limited space like Venice?

How CAN WE BALANCE THE LARGE NUMBERS OF TOURISTS WO WHOM WE ARE DEPENDENT AND STILL PRESERVE THE CITY and the life quality of its inhabitants?

The measures which have been implemented so far by administrators and that have been announced by various institutional figures are either ineffective or unworkable. The CURRENT programs regarding SEASONAL PRICING ADJUSTMENTS have failed; THE SUGGESTION OF diverting the TRAFFIC flow BY MEANS OF alternative itineraries combined with a new city tax, WILL NOT reduce the NUMBER OF VISITORS NOR CAN YOU MANAGE CITY ACCESS UNLESS YOU RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF VISITOR PERMITS.

The only solution lies in the ADOPTION of the “limit concept”; not imposed on all OF the city but on THE AREA OF VENICE which is most OVERRUN by “ hit and run tourism” THAT IS TOURISM WITH NO ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE CITY .

SO WE PROPOSE THAT St Mark’s Square BE CONSIDERED A” CLOSED boundary MUSEUM AREA”, WHICH WILL ALLOW IT TO BE more easily CONTROLLED AND WHEREBY BORDERS AND a FIXED MAX QUANTITY ADMITTED WILL HAVE a major effect on the entire city.

BY LIMITING THE NUMBERS OF TOURISTS ALLOWED INTO THE SQUARE FOR DAILY USE (and so the CITY because the mass tourists mostly want just to go there). WE can CONTROL the flow moving towards the area around St Mark’s square, by using AN ONLINE REGISTRATION TO RESERVE ACCESS TO THIS RESTRICTED AREA. BY CONTROLLED ACCESS WE CAN guarantee a satisfactory visiting experience TO ALL VISITORS.

WE SUGGEST THAT This can be achieved by AN ONLINE REGISTRATION S.Marco Pass SOLD THROUGH internet sites, marketplace and intermediary GDS (Global Distribution Systems), and all tourism distribution methods.

In fact, there is a sector of tourism today chich entirely passes by Internet when usiing booking engine and dynamic packaging platform.

BY MANDATING A TOURIST REGISTRATION FOR DAILY VISITORS NON STAYING OVERNIGHT TO ENTER THE AREA OF SAN MARCO a tourist or an agency will be able to verify availability ON A CERTAIN DATE and buying a pass with personal bar code.

THE LIMITATION OF PASSES could be the equivalent of the historic center inhabitants. Guests staying overnight in the borough of Venice (as well as residents, workers and all other exempt categories) would always have a guaranteed access to the Square by way of their payment of the city tax would give them the right to a smart band, chip via smart phone, card or any other NFC technology.

It would be necessary to guarantee to those staying overnight a quote of at least 50% of available positions in order to promote this type of ENTRY tourism as opposed to the growing phenomenon of hit and run groups WHO ARRIVE ENMASSE AND LEAVE THE SAME DAY.

THIS POSITION is easily understandable by international community. To create a quantitative link between the visitors and the residents. A city cannot receive EVERY DAY more VISITORS than the number of its inhabitants, the PERIL IS THAT VENICE WILL LOSE ITS IDENTITY TO become an UNINHABITED theme park.

All the indicators of world tourism numbers point to a CONSISTANT increase of DAILY tourists. THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE GROWING NUMBERS IS CRUCIAL AND CRITICAL TO THE PRESERVATION OF OUR CITY.

à FINALLY The other aspect WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION DUE TO THE INCREASTING NUMBERS OF USE is THE public transportation SYSTEM.

THERE IS ALSO AN URGENT NECESSITY to study a system of access limits REGULATED WITH RESERVATIONS, TO ENABLE BOTH tourists AND residents can move WITH COMFORT. MANAGEMENT OF VISITORS IN ADVANCE OF ARRIVAL IS CRUCIAL TO REDUCE WAIT TIMES AT TICKET OFFICES AND TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE. A MANDATED RESERVATION SYSTEM TO ENTER THE SQUARE WILL REDUCE THE WAIT TIME AT TICKET BOOTHS.

Other attractions could also be managed and incorporated into one prepurchased ticket and pre-sold together on internet through intermediaries.

–WE NEED TO ACT NOW TO VALIDATE THE enormous patrimony of tradition and quality which is still present in the city BY MEANS OF a trademark of “Real Venice” (made in Venice/Venice Doc). THIS COVETED VALIDATION WOULD BE managed by the council AND accredited board AND which will indicate parameters in order to be a part of it.

THE TRADEMARK OF REAL VENICE, will trigger a virtuous circle, creating new high-profile jobs. VENDORS WITH APPROVAL WILL BE awarded a seal of quality TO VALIDATE THEIR LOCAL AND HANDMADE PRODUCT LOCATION OR ACTIVITY.

— FINALLY, This INCROACHING OF UN MANAGED TOURIST NUMBERS OFFERS Venice AN OPPORTUNITY TO resolve its financial problems BY MEANS OF with entry FEE SYSTEM WHEREBY WE CAN ONE AGAIN LIVE WITH A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

TODAY WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WITH THE digital evolution WE ARE ENABLED TO MANAGE THE INCREASING NUMBERS MORE EASILY AND IN ADVANCE.

Therefore, we are asking everyone to support this project so promises can finally turn into ACTION and WE CAN LEAVE a better VENICE than the one we INHERITED to future generations.

Marco Scurati, Commitee for the sustainable tourism in Venice

scurati@gmail.com +39 0415227589