Overtourism, one in two Italians blames the phenomenon

Somewhere between economic opportunity and overexploitation of resources: tourism is a cross and a delight for Italians. The sample identified by Ipsos for Unipol's Observatory on Italian Society, interviewed on the subject, agrees on the benefits it brings employment, but remains critical of the negative repercussions of 'overtourism, from waste management to the scarce availability of accommodation for residents. The call goes out to local administrations: we need to improve mobility and curb short-term rentals.

This is the general picture that emerges from the survey of Italians' thoughts. A generally positive judgement regarding the economic benefits, especially according to the inhabitants of the South and Islands, regions where tourism represents the most incisive revenue item. Here, 58% believe it is more of an opportunity - the Italian average is 54% -, while only 12% consider it more of a source of problems (30% express a neutral opinion).

For the next two years, Italians expect tourism to grow both nationally and locally, especially in Florence, Verona and Rome. At the moment, one in two Italians (56%) think that Italy is affected by the phenomenon of overtourism, but the percentage is halved if we only consider their own area or city (28%). If only metropolitan areas are considered, however, the situation changes (58%), falling back into line with the national figure; Florence, Rome and Naples the cities where the phenomenon is most perceived.

It is no coincidence that it is in cities with smaller numbers where the positive perception of tourism is greatest: the citizens of Cagliari and Verona, for example, consider it an economic growth factor in 73 and 70 per cent of cases, while in cities such as Rome and Florence the percentages recorded are 49 and 51 per cent respectively. "The Tuscan capital," reads the research, "is the most sensitive to the problems of tourism, here the problems linked to the closure of historic activities and the loss of authenticity, as well as the depopulation of historic centres, also stand out".

Short-term rentals are perceived more as a problem (35%) than as an economic advantage, especially in Verona (52%), Florence (40%), Rome (38%) and Milan (38%). The majority of Italians then agree with the Ministry of the Interior's decision to ban the use of key boxes (devices to check in by collecting the keys independently) and the practice of self check-in in Italy, because they do not allow confirmation of the real identity of the occupant, and thus guarantee the security of the community.