‘We want a vision that does not have tourism at
its centre’: Venice residents protest new entry fee
The protesters say they want a different vision for
the city which doesn’t put tourism front and centre.
By Rebecca
Ann Hughes
Published
on 10/04/2024 - 16:00
The
protesters say they want a different vision for the city which doesn’t put
tourism front and centre.
Activists
in Venice have staged a protest against the new day-tripper entry fee which
will come into force on 25 April.
A social
housing group occupied a council building on Tuesday morning, displaying
banners with slogans criticising the €5 tourist charge.
The
organisation also announced plans for a demonstration on the day the ticket
will be launched.
The
protesters say they want a different vision for the city which doesn’t put
tourism front and centre.
Venice activists slam council spending on entry fee
Activists
from Venice’s Social Assembly for Housing and the Solidarity Network for
Housing have criticised council spending on the day-tripper fee.
During
their demonstration, they carried posters reading ‘Home, rights, dignity’ and
‘Venice is not a museum’.
The
activists entered council offices and requested to speak with the mayor and the
administration.
They
shouted “We don't need a ticket, but we need a political will to address the
problem of housing in Venice," according to local press.
Venetians call for better housing not a day-tripper
fee
The
demonstrators are some of the many Venetians who consider the housing plan
drawn up by the municipality to be insufficient.
“We are
students, we are workers. We have jobs that don't allow us to pay rent. Is this
the idea for the city?” they asked during the protest.
According
to one activist, the demonstration on Tuesday and the one planned for 25 April
“must not only lead to a resounding ‘no’ to the entrance ticket but also a
‘yes’ to a new vision of the city.”
“We want a
vision that does not have tourism at its centre, but has homes and services for
citizens,” Federica Toninello from the Social Assembly for Housing told local
press.
“We have
homeless people who work, but they don't have a home; it's something shocking,
paradoxical,” added Susanna Polloni from the Solidarity Network for Housing.
Venice
council has earmarked €27.7 million to repair and redevelop around 500
apartments in the historic centre, islands and mainland.
There are
reportedly around 2,000 properties currently lying empty.
The council
has said proceeds from the entry fees will go towards services that help the
residents of the city including maintenance, cleaning and reducing living
costs.
But critics
say it will do little to moderate the influx of tourism which in turn is one of
the main factors for the depopulation of Venice.
As of last
year, there are now more tourist beds in the city than residents.
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