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Gloria Beggiato, who owns the Metropolitan Hotel across the Venice canals says to The Guardian, "It is calm like a pond, because there are no more waves caused by motorised boats transporting day-tripper tourists. And of course, the giant cruise ships have disappeared."
He further adds, "We Venetians have a feeling that nature has returned and is taking back possessions of the city. If you ask me today - sunny blue skies, clear canals - then, yes, we would all like Venice to stay like this for a while. But we need, and look forward to, the return of tourists, though maybe not the 20 million a year that we have had to cope with. I honestly believe we should take the opportunity of this lockdown to reflect and see how we can be more organized in the future to find a balance between the city and tourism."
Mr. Beggiato's words ring true to all of us. What are you, as a traveller, hoping to change about your travel patterns that can help maintain a healthy balance between tourism and environmental responsibility? We welcome your views in the comments below!
