Rising waters and overtourism are killing Venice. Now the fight is on to save its soul

CNN - May 10th, 2025

Venice is grappling with the dual challenges of rising sea levels and mass tourism that threaten its very existence. With a local population under 50,000 and 30 million tourists annually, the city struggles to maintain its cultural heritage and livability. Initiatives like a €5 day-tripper fee and smart monitoring systems are underway, but local residents are also fighting back with creative solutions. Fairbnb offers a sustainable rental platform for locals, while other entrepreneurs are promoting traditional Venetian crafts and sustainable tourism activities.

The implications of Venice's struggle extend beyond its borders, serving as a microcosm of global issues like climate change and overtourism. The MOSE flood barriers, while operational, highlight the complexities and costs associated with protecting the city. Moreover, the city's unique cultural and historical significance makes its preservation paramount. The situation in Venice is a bellwether for similar challenges faced by tourist-heavy cities worldwide. Success in Venice could provide a blueprint for balancing tourism with sustainability, potentially safeguarding cultural landmarks globally.

Cultural Preservation Venice Sustainable Tourism Overtourism Rising Sea Levels Fairbnb Mose Flood Barriers Simone Venturini Emanuele Dal Carlo Elena Almansi Fabio Carrera

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RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing Venice due to overtourism and environmental issues. It effectively combines factual information with personal stories to engage readers and raise awareness of the situation. While the article is generally accurate and timely, it would benefit from more transparency regarding its sources and a broader range of perspectives to ensure balance. The story's focus on sustainable tourism initiatives and community-driven solutions adds significant public interest and potential impact. Overall, the article is well-written and informative, but there is room for improvement in terms of source attribution and perspective diversity.

Accuracy

The article provides a generally accurate portrayal of the issues facing Venice, supported by specific statistics and expert opinions. For instance, it cites the annual tourist numbers and the local population decline, which align with known data sources. However, some claims, such as the percentage of day-trippers and the precise economic impact of tourism, require further verification. The mention of 8,322 Airbnb listings and the impact on housing is specific and verifiable, adding to the article's credibility. While the article accurately describes the MOSE flood barriers' operational costs and usage, it could benefit from more detailed sourcing to reinforce these claims.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view of Venice's challenges by incorporating perspectives from local residents, city officials, and entrepreneurs. It highlights both the detrimental effects of overtourism and the efforts being made to combat these issues through sustainable tourism initiatives. However, it leans slightly towards emphasizing the negative impacts without fully exploring the potential benefits of tourism, such as economic contributions to local businesses. The narrative could include more voices from tourists or tourism industry stakeholders to provide a fuller picture of the situation.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear, engaging language to convey the complex issues facing Venice. It effectively combines storytelling with factual information, making it accessible to a broad audience. The use of specific examples, such as the Fairbnb initiative and the MOSE flood barriers, helps illustrate the challenges and solutions. However, some sections could be more concise to enhance readability and maintain the reader's attention throughout the piece.

Source quality

The article relies on a mix of expert opinions, such as those from local entrepreneurs and city officials, which adds credibility. However, it lacks direct citations or references to external studies or reports that could substantiate the claims made. The absence of attributed sources for some statistics, like the number of tourists and Airbnb listings, weakens the overall reliability. Including more authoritative sources, such as government reports or academic studies, would enhance the article's credibility.

Transparency

While the article provides a clear narrative and outlines the various challenges and solutions being implemented in Venice, it lacks transparency regarding the sources of its data and claims. There is no explicit mention of how information was gathered or the methodology behind certain statistics. The article could benefit from disclosing the basis for its claims more clearly, such as citing studies or providing links to sources, to improve transparency and allow readers to assess the information's validity.