What is Overtourism?
Overtourism is becoming a serious problem to a lot of places around the world. Here’s a breakdown of what is contributing to the issue and a list of over-visited destinations.
A gondolier in Venice was threatened, headbutted and punched by a rowdy tourist this week after asking the man and his family to disembark from his stationary boat.
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The incident, which was recorded and shared on Facebook, reportedly began when a group of South American tourists climbed down into a stationary gondola without the guide’s permission and began taking selfies. According to local outlet La Nuova Venezia, the gondolier asked the family to get out of his boat.
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Once the family got out of the boat, the unidentified man began threatening the gondolier before eventually headbutting him several times and then punching him in the chin in front of onlookers. The group continued to argue after the physical altercation. At one point, a tourist, who appears to be the man’s daughter, got involved and began yelling at the gondolier.
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People on the other side of the channel could be heard yelling for the man to stop in the nearly minute-and-a-half video. The altercation appeared to end with the family walking away, seemingly with the gondolier.
Once the family got out of the boat, the unidentified man began threatening the gondolier before eventually headbutting him several times and then punching him in the chin in front of onlookers. (iStock)
The incident reportedly took place at popular Ponte dei Bareteri bridge.
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Venice, which has long been a popular tourist destination, has been pushing back against overtourism in recent years. Last year, the Italian city installed temporary gates to help deal with the crowds of tourists that flock to the iconic waterways throughout the city. And earlier this year, the city approved charging an entrance fee for visitors not planning to stay overnight, per Reuters.