Is There a Solution to Overcrowding and Mass Tourism in Italy?

Each day it seems there are more stories in the news about the mass tourism and overcrowding, especially in Italy. This isn’t a new problem, and several places like Venice, Rome, Florence, Capri, and the Cinque Terre have already initiated measures to control the crowds. Fees for day-trippers and limits on the numbers admitted to certain sites are a few examples, but unfortunately, it’s not enough.

I feel sad and a little responsible because in 2018 I wrote my book, My Amalfi Coast Love Affair, to share my love of this beautiful  place, and it wasn’t overcrowded then. My goal was to share real-life stories, humor, travel advice, and practical information, and to entice you to plan your next trip and maybe even experience your own love affair. it’s become my most popular and best-selling book and the area is no longer such a quiet reprieve.

Now my favorite place in Italy has been totally inundated with tourists, particularly in the summer season, to the point where you can barely move and the roads are clogged for hours. This is not pleasant for anyone on a vacation, and it certainly isn’t ideal for the residents and businesses in those places.

In an article published today by Travel and World Tour a large part of the blame is placed on the huge cruise ships which can carry upwards of 6000 passengers. The problem with this type of tourist is that they are only in the town for a day, so they don’t sleep in the hotels, and they frequently buy cheap souvenirs made in China. Most return to the ship for their main meal, so local restaurants and other small businesses do not benefit at all. The local infrastructure cannot support this wave of tourists flooding their towns.

Even though Italy relies heavily on tourism, research shows that overnight visitors spend three to five times as much as day-trippers. The local economic impact is not commensurate with the damage to the culture of these communities. The residents want travelers to visit, but they want responsible and respectful travelers. They prefer those who can stay several days and learn about the culture and history of their city, instead of posing in front of monuments and taking selfies to share on Instagram later.

Since I travel frequently to Italy, I’m more aware of this rapidly deteriorating and dire situation. Now I realize the extent of the damage this type of tourism does to these smaller cities, like those on my beloved Amalfi Coast. A more sustainable form of travel could improve the situation if enough of us embraced it. Initiatives adopted by several cities aim to make travelers more aware of the need for this type of travel. They are designed to direct visitors to adopt responsible and respectful behaviors or risk incurring fines.

I’d much rather spend a few days at a local hotel or B&B, enjoy the authenticity of the artisans, immerse myself into the town, and eat at family-run restaurants. When I’m in a place for more than one day, only then do I get a real feel for the people and the city.

In all these overcrowded tourist destinations resulting in a subsequent lack of benefit to the local economy, residents are increasingly becoming more frustrated. Day-tripper tourism, also known in Italy as hit-and-run tourism or mordi e fuggi, involves tourists who come to the city for a day and leave without an overnight stay. Most of the day-trippers who visit Venice are from the cruise ships, so they do not stay overnight, and since their meals are already included in the cost of their cruise, they don’t spend money eating in Venice’s restaurants and trattorias. I can understand the resentment by Venetians when an additional 30,000 tourists pile into their city without any real contribution to their economy.

Is there a solution to this crisis? The challenge is balancing the economic benefit to the country versus the local population’s distaste for these overwhelming crowds. That is the key to finding a lasting solution.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please consider leaving a comment.

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I write travel memoirs about Italy and  medical and psychological thrillers.

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