OVERTOURISM AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: The case of Venice

Abstract

The research presents a theoretical introduction that aims at defining causes and impacts of Overtourism on the environment, the culture, and the society of a destination. The literature has recently started to investigate the impacts of excessive tourism on the society and awareness on the importance of quality of life of residents and of the experience of tourists, for the success of a destination, is increasing. Social movements theory will be therefore analysed with the attempt to understand how residents has started to organize first to fight against tourists and then, to try to find solutions and define common future perspectives. This first part will build the base knowledge to analyze possible strategies to tackle the phenomenon, theorized and implemented so far. Given this theoretical background the second part of the research is based on empirical knowledge gathered through interviews, events, and seminars participation, in order to deeply understand causes and impacts of Overtourism in Venice, present the challenges the city and its stakeholders are facing and discuss the role of social movements to invert the process.