This week, billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez arrived in Venice, sparking protests from the local community as well as extensive media coverage. The couple’s glitzy visit caused a camera frenzy, but locals in the famous Italian city expressed annoyance at what they see as the city’s increasing focus on tourists rather than its own citizens.
Protesters protested overcrowding, rising rents, and the environmental damage caused by the steady influx of luxury visitors by holding banners and chanting slogans close to popular tourist destinations. The couple’s well-known presence, according to activists, simply serves to highlight the disparity between affluent tourists and impoverished residents who are forced from their communities.
Overtourism has long been a problem for Venice. From cruise ship bans to entry fees, city officials have attempted reforms, but many Venetians believe efforts are too little, too late. “It’s not about Bezos personally,” one protester explained, “it’s about a system that treats Venice like a playground for the ultra-rich.”
As global travel rebounds post-pandemic, locals say Venice must urgently rethink how to protect its heritage, environment, and full-time residents. The Bezos-Sánchez visit has now become a symbol in the growing debate over who Venice is really for.
