Tourism in Italy, particularly in the capital city of Rome, has seen record high levels of visitors, with 35 million people flocking to the Eternal City last year. The upcoming Catholic Church’s Jubilee is expected to bring even more tourists, leading to concerns about overtourism. Residents are feeling the impact of the influx of visitors, with complaints ranging from overcrowded streets to rising rent prices and diminished local culture. Some locals feel that tourism has become more of a burden than a benefit to the city’s life.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Italy’s tourism sector, but the country has seen a rapid recovery with an increase in visitors. Rome’s enduring appeal lies in its architectural wonders and romantic charm, but the city is struggling to handle the large number of tourists. The upcoming Jubilee is expected to bring in 32 million pilgrims, further exacerbating the issues of overcrowding and infrastructure strain. Locals are critical of the city’s administration’s urban renovation and beautification efforts, which have led to road closures and disruptions in daily life.
The Jubilee event has had a profound impact on Rome’s housing market, with short-term rentals increasing by 37.3% and rent prices soaring to unaffordable levels. Many residents have been forced to leave their homes to make way for holiday rentals catering to tourists. The housing crisis has reached a boiling point, with students protesting the increasingly unaffordable living situation in Rome’s main student neighbourhood. The city has been described as turning into a ‘giant Airbnb’, displacing its own inhabitants in favor of short-term rentals.
Some popular tourist spots in Italy have implemented controversial measures to address overtourism, such as Venice’s day-tripper tax. However, Italy’s current tourism minister, Daniela Santanchè, believes that growth is not the issue but rather how growth is managed. The ministry’s policies focus on diversifying tourist destinations and promoting sustainable practices, with an allocation of €47 million to strengthen major cultural destinations like Rome. Questions remain about how the housing crisis and displacement of citizens will be addressed in the face of growing tourism.
The tension between tourism and local life in Rome is a complex issue that reflects larger concerns about the impact of overtourism. Residents are grappling with the changes brought about by the influx of visitors and the transformation of their city into a popular tourist destination. The upcoming Jubilee is expected to exacerbate these challenges, with concerns about overcrowding, infrastructure strain, and rising rent prices. The future of Rome as a cultural and historical capital hangs in the balance as residents and officials navigate the complexities of managing tourism in the city.
