Still, an influx of tourists comes each year, overcrowding streets, causing environmental deterioration and higher living costs. After visiting for myself in 2022, I saw the reasons locals are fed up — and two years later, those issues haven't been resolved.

I loved Venice. It's perhaps the unique destination I've been to, with its boats in place of cars and vibrant buildings.

But seeing the European destination firsthand helped me see how overtourism impacts residents — and how I was part of the problem.

Venice, Italy, is dealing with an overtourism crisis.

In 2024, Venice has welcomed as many as 75,000 tourists per day, BI previously reported. Venice's city center is only home to 50,000 residents.

The more than 1,000-year-old city, made up of 118 small islands, was simply not built to accommodate so many people.

Venice officials have tried to mitigate the problem by charging a tourist tax, banning large cruise ships, and capping visitor groups.

Still, too many people continue to pile into the historic city.

The city's struggle with mass tourism is nothing new.

Crowds and construction in Venice.    Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Venice has been dealing with overtourism for more than a decade.

According to a 2018 report by the European Parliament, tourism in Venice caused air and water pollution, overcrowding, and decreased residents.

Due to environmental and cultural damage, the city was almost listed on UNESCO's danger list in 2021 and 2023.

https://www.businessinsider.com/i-wont-go-back-to-venice-italy-over-tourism-2024-8#the-citys-struggle-with-mass-tourism-is-nothing-new-2