In Venice, there is mass tourism… and the weight of tourists. Because it has found that these visitors are getting heavier and heavier, the City of the Doges recently decided to reduce the number of passengers allowed on its gondolas from six to five.
"There is the average weight per tourist but also the fact that the waters of the canals are increasingly agitated by the traffic of motor boats", explained Roberto Luppi, former president of the gondoliers of Venice. The latter specified that the measure adopted by the city councilors of the Serenissima is not intended to increase the earnings of the gondoliers but to relieve their work by facilitating the maneuverability of their famous black boats, for more safety for their customers. .
The boat is taking on water
Adopted in early July by the city council, a new regulation provides that now only five people, instead of six so far, will be allowed to board a gondola "da nolo" (traditional private rental boat). As for the large-scale gondolas known as “da parada” (parade), a municipal service dedicated to crossing the Grand Canal, only 12 people (against 14) will be authorized to access them at the same time.
"Tourists are also now overweight and when it is full, the boat sinks and takes water," explained in the daily La Repubblica Raoul Roveratto, president of the replacement gondoliers. "Going forward with more than half a mobile ton on board is dangerous," he added.
More licenses allowed
The city council also plans to increase the number of licenses granted to gondoliers, from 433 to 440, to which are added 180 replacements. According to the new regulations, this license can be passed on within the same family, without the new holder having to take an exam, provided that he can attest to four years of experience of navigation on the family gondola. .
Long deprived of visitors due to a health crisis, the gondoliers have seen their activity drop drastically in recent months. The historic flood at the end of 2019 had already dealt a blow to tourism.
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