Strike called off against canal regulations imposed by Venice City Council
After a 3-day strike by commercial transport boats and taxis in Venice in protest against new regulations for Grand Canal traffic imposed by Venice City Council, an agreement was reached late afternoon on 15 November 2013. The strike started on 13 November and the strikers had indicated they were prepared to persist. A meeting between … Continue reading
Venice needs a subway, not Mayor Orsoni’s “discipline”, “sacrifices” and 26 new canal regulations
Following the tragic crash between a gondola and water bus on Venice’s Grand Canal on 17 August 2013, Venice City Council proposed 26 new regulations on 26 August. The accident killed German university lecturer Jaochim Vogel and threw his family into the water, leading to minor head injuries to his 3-year old daughter. This was … Continue reading
Challenging Venice’s etiquette rules which penalize residents and tourists
This year anti-tourism campaigns and attempts to regulate tourists in Venice have reached new heights. I strongly advised against discriminating against tourists in my book, Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and Reality (2012). Apart from the possible economic impact of being negative towards tourists, we are all people, residents are sometimes tourists too and tourists … Continue reading
Film of Manchester Salon debate: Modernisation, development and conservation
Modernisation, development and conservation Dominic Standish, Angela Connelly, Tom Jarman and Alex Solk opened up ‘sustainable development’ to some critical thinking, chaired by Jane Leach. This debate was organised by Manchester Salon, partnered by Manchester Society of Architects and was hosted at Manchester School of Architecture on 24 April 2013. The debate addressed topics of … Continue reading
Book review of ‘Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and Reality’
Elisabetta Gasparoni has written a very perceptive and thorough review of my book Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and Reality (UPA, 2012). This is a link to the review on The Future Cities project website: Venice: Myth and Reality. The review was also re-published by Spiked-online on 30 November 2012 here: Is Venice really sinking? … Continue reading
Hit team to ‘educate’ tourists in Venice
Venice City Councillor Carla Rey held a press conference at 11 am on 11 May 2012 to inaugurate a team of 15 stewards and hostesses who will ‘educate’ tourists in and near St Mark’s Square. Although the City Council press release was careful to stress that they will educate tourists and citizens, its title focused … Continue reading
America’s Cup comes to Venice, environmental “miserablism” starts
The first America’s Cup event will be held in Venice between 12 and 20 May, 2012, with a repetition planned for 2013. This is an exciting event that will bring visitors and revenue to the city, but environmental campaigners have already started protesting about extra tourists and environmental impact. These claims run contrary to Venice’s … Continue reading
Venice’s tourist tax raises almost €3 million in five weeks
Between the introduction of Venice’s tourist tax on 24 August 2011 and 30 September 2011, Venice City Council raised €2,900,000. This figure was published in the Venice daily newspaper Il Gazzettino di Venezia on 2 December 2011: Tassa di soggiorno per i turisti: in un mese il Comune incassa quasi 3 milioni di euro We … Continue reading
Debate: ‘Death in Venice: is tourism killing or saving the city?’
This panel discussion and public debate will be held on Tuesday 11 October, 7.45pm until 9.45pm, De Marchi Room, CIMBA/Filippin Institute, Via San Giacomo 4, Paderno del Grappa, 31017, Treviso, Veneto, Italy. The debate has been jointly organised by the Consortium Institute of Management and Business Analysis (CIMBA), Iowa University and the Institute of Ideas. … Continue reading
New Venice terminal for cruise ships and campaign against them
A new terminal called ‘Isonzo 2’ was opened at the Maritime Station in Venice on 13 July. This terminal will provide more space for larger cruise ships to dock, as illustrated by the Venice Port Authority here: Inauguration of the new Cruise Terminal Isonzo 2 However, the inauguration of the new terminal was met with … Continue reading
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