Florence's pledge: Balancing tourism and local life amid influx
A new campaign has been launched in Florence, inaugurated by the authorities ahead of the summer season when hundreds of thousands of people worldwide will arrive there. As explained, the goal is to sensitize visitors before visiting the city, which has long struggled with excessive tourists, making life burdensome for residents.
The campaign, conducted, among other things, on social media, is titled "Enjoy, respect Firenze." The city authorities, who have been dealing with the phenomenon of so-called overtourism for years, emphasize: "Florence is alive; treat it with care."
Florence has a problem with overtourism
In a statement issued on the occasion of the campaign's launch, it was noted that it is about a "hospitality pact" between residents and tourists and a reminder that the historic center of this city of priceless art and architecture has been inscribed on the UNESCO heritage list and should be treated as such by everyone.
Dante Alighieri and Leonardo da Vinci "virtually convince" about this.
The approach to the phenomenon of so-called overtourism is one of the themes of the campaign in the city, whose residents will elect a new mayor in June. Representing the centre-right is former director of the Florence Uffizi Gallery, Eike Schmidt—a German-born art historian who obtained Italian citizenship last year. He argues that it is necessary to restore order and peace.
In the fall of 2023, the authorities of Florence limited the availability of apartments for short-term rentals of a few days to tourists. As they argued, their influx into historic tenement houses causes chaos, and a crisis in the real estate market, and short-term rentals are also becoming increasingly troublesome for residents and neighbours of rented apartments.
The city council approved a regulation under which no more apartments can be allocated for short-term rentals in the area inscribed on the UNESCO heritage list. This is in the strict center near such famous monuments as: Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, and the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Furthermore, under the adopted resolution, apartment owners who give up renting them to tourists will be exempt from the municipal property tax for three years.
