The following link is to John Berendt's The City of Falling Angels. This is a source that is frequently cited in the 2007 IQP, Pressing Issues. This book includes information about the economy, licenses, taxes, and retail stores and would be a great resource for the economy part of our project as well as touching upon tourism.
The City of Falling Angels
This book was not available through the WPI library, but parts of it can be found at the link above through Google books. Many of the pages cited in the 2007 IQP are not included in this online preview. I will contact the research librarian to see if she can locate the full text for us.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Day-Tripper Bans, A Step Forward or Well-Intentioned Folly?
I just came across this article and felt that it would be a great discussion point for this blog. Overcrowded Venice may ban day-trippers
Apparently, Venice is considering the exclusion of 70% of its tourists: the day-trippers. A proposal to only allow those with pre-booked hotel stays is being backed by Enrico Mingardi, Venice's head of Public Transportation. I think I sense a collaboration coming on.
Anyway, please leave a comment about this. What do you think? Is this a good turn-around to help Venice reclaim their economy or will it only drive away mainland Italians and steepen the slope to turning the city into Disney Italia? I'm going to put up a poll as well, so please vote!
Apparently, Venice is considering the exclusion of 70% of its tourists: the day-trippers. A proposal to only allow those with pre-booked hotel stays is being backed by Enrico Mingardi, Venice's head of Public Transportation. I think I sense a collaboration coming on.
Anyway, please leave a comment about this. What do you think? Is this a good turn-around to help Venice reclaim their economy or will it only drive away mainland Italians and steepen the slope to turning the city into Disney Italia? I'm going to put up a poll as well, so please vote!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Tourist Maze e-book
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/wpi/docDetail.action?docID=10068558
This is the electronic book version of Venice: The Tourist Maze. Just for further references.
http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/327
This is the English version of the City of Venice site Yoshi found (the second post in this blog). I just came across it.
This is the electronic book version of Venice: The Tourist Maze. Just for further references.
http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/327
This is the English version of the City of Venice site Yoshi found (the second post in this blog). I just came across it.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
'Theme Park Venice'
"'Themepark Venice' to Charge for Entry." The Independent (London) NEWS
Peter Popham
This article contains the interesting proposal that the city of Venice charge tourists upon entry. A journalist for The Independent, a news column from London, Peter Popham is the first to coin this popular phrase quoted in numerous other short articles and critiques across the web. It makes a comparison to the 50 euro charge of entrance into Disney Land and shows brief figures on how that might help pay for the MOSE flood gate project. For an interesting albeit negative viewpoint on Venice's economic future, the writer had no respect or regard for Venetian pride or culture. See the link below for the New York Times version of the same information. It is a little more recent and contains more information that may be viable for presenting a possible negative outcome if Venice is unable to balance tourism and keep its residents.
The Independent:'Themepark Venice' to Charge for Entry
Times Online: Welcome to Venice, the Themepark
Peter Popham
This article contains the interesting proposal that the city of Venice charge tourists upon entry. A journalist for The Independent, a news column from London, Peter Popham is the first to coin this popular phrase quoted in numerous other short articles and critiques across the web. It makes a comparison to the 50 euro charge of entrance into Disney Land and shows brief figures on how that might help pay for the MOSE flood gate project. For an interesting albeit negative viewpoint on Venice's economic future, the writer had no respect or regard for Venetian pride or culture. See the link below for the New York Times version of the same information. It is a little more recent and contains more information that may be viable for presenting a possible negative outcome if Venice is unable to balance tourism and keep its residents.
The Independent:'Themepark Venice' to Charge for Entry
Times Online: Welcome to Venice, the Themepark
World Tourism Highlights 2008
Tourism Highlights: 2008 Edition. United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2008. Web.
This online document contains the highlights of world tourism statistics from 1950-2007.
In addition to the amount of raw data it provides, it also contains numerous graphics and an assessment of globalization, issues that face world tourism today, and how these rising trends may transfer over into the world tomorrow. The layout of this online document is surprisingly similar to that of an IQP, and may prove helpful in creating unique, creative, and informative graphics of our own for the Veninomics B09 project.
UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2008 Edition
This online document contains the highlights of world tourism statistics from 1950-2007.
In addition to the amount of raw data it provides, it also contains numerous graphics and an assessment of globalization, issues that face world tourism today, and how these rising trends may transfer over into the world tomorrow. The layout of this online document is surprisingly similar to that of an IQP, and may prove helpful in creating unique, creative, and informative graphics of our own for the Veninomics B09 project.
UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2008 Edition
Venice, A Tourist Maze
Venice, the Tourist Maze a Cultural Critique of the World's most Touristed City
Robert C. Davis and Garry R. Marvin
Although this name of this book is Venice, A Tourist Maze, it also contains economic information about Venice. The afterward touches upon the problem due to the increase of larger businesses taking over smaller vendors. Not only does the book display information about the industrialization of Venice, but it explores the change from an economy catering to the residents to one catering to tourists. This book will help us write the background as well as part of the introduction.
Robert C. Davis and Garry R. Marvin
Although this name of this book is Venice, A Tourist Maze, it also contains economic information about Venice. The afterward touches upon the problem due to the increase of larger businesses taking over smaller vendors. Not only does the book display information about the industrialization of Venice, but it explores the change from an economy catering to the residents to one catering to tourists. This book will help us write the background as well as part of the introduction.
European Cities
"The Trajectories of European Cities, 1960–2005." Cities 24.3
Ivan Turok and Vlad Mykhnenko
This article addresses the economic and social problems facing European cities. Venice is experiencing many of the issues touched upon and this article can help us understand the causes of some of these problems. For example, the city is plagued with social issues caused by the economy, such as the economy’s shift towards tourism. Knowing the reasons behind this would be useful for comparing Venice’s economy and problems to those of European cities in general. In our introduction, this information can be utilized to first explain the broad aspect of the European economy and then take a more detailed look at the Venetian economy.
Ivan Turok and Vlad Mykhnenko
This article addresses the economic and social problems facing European cities. Venice is experiencing many of the issues touched upon and this article can help us understand the causes of some of these problems. For example, the city is plagued with social issues caused by the economy, such as the economy’s shift towards tourism. Knowing the reasons behind this would be useful for comparing Venice’s economy and problems to those of European cities in general. In our introduction, this information can be utilized to first explain the broad aspect of the European economy and then take a more detailed look at the Venetian economy.
The Decline of Italy
"The Decline of Italy: The Case of a Fully Matured Economy." The Economic History Review 5.2
Carlo M. Cipolla
This is a good source for information about Italy as a whole, which can be used for our project report's introduction. This mainly shows that not only is Venice’s economy declining, but Italy’s economy as well. This gives us a broad picture of the country’s economy as well as a lead into Venice’s situation.
Carlo M. Cipolla
This is a good source for information about Italy as a whole, which can be used for our project report's introduction. This mainly shows that not only is Venice’s economy declining, but Italy’s economy as well. This gives us a broad picture of the country’s economy as well as a lead into Venice’s situation.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Evaluating Tourist Flows in Historic Cities: The Case of Venice
"Tourist Flows in Historic Cities: The Case of Venice." Journal of Economic and Social Geography (Volume 86 Issue 1, p.80-87)
Armando Montanari and Calogero Muscara
This most recent 2008 case study would be very useful to us if we can obtain one through the Wiley InterScience website. I have yet to ask the school librarian for help on this issue but we could definitely stand to benefit from the article as it claims to contain a "nine fold classification of tourists" highlighting important differences in perceptiveness, receptiveness, spatial behavior, and spending power. It contains a thorough analysis of the different types of tourists that visit Venice, their socioeconomic impact, and their preferred mode(s) of transportation. It also provides clues as to which neighboring areas profit off of providing transportation to Venice and how foreign agencies control where money is spent and may not necessarily benefit Venice the city itself. Our group will have to follow up on this lead, however, as it is not the main premise of this journal.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120147156/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Update: We did end up getting a pdf of the file thanks to Laura Hanlan at the WPI library. You can access it here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?vjojwyzzvqm
Armando Montanari and Calogero Muscara
This most recent 2008 case study would be very useful to us if we can obtain one through the Wiley InterScience website. I have yet to ask the school librarian for help on this issue but we could definitely stand to benefit from the article as it claims to contain a "nine fold classification of tourists" highlighting important differences in perceptiveness, receptiveness, spatial behavior, and spending power. It contains a thorough analysis of the different types of tourists that visit Venice, their socioeconomic impact, and their preferred mode(s) of transportation. It also provides clues as to which neighboring areas profit off of providing transportation to Venice and how foreign agencies control where money is spent and may not necessarily benefit Venice the city itself. Our group will have to follow up on this lead, however, as it is not the main premise of this journal.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120147156/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Update: We did end up getting a pdf of the file thanks to Laura Hanlan at the WPI library. You can access it here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?vjojwyzzvqm
Meet the Head of Venice Tourism (2008)
John Alwyn-Jones chats with the head of Venice Tourism:
November 16, 2008
This interview with the head Venice Tourism Board holds some interesting statistics and information which haven't been listed in other sources, particularly pertaining to the number of tourists staying in Venice and what's being done to balance tourism with preserving the environment and city.
This interview with the head Venice Tourism Board holds some interesting statistics and information which haven't been listed in other sources, particularly pertaining to the number of tourists staying in Venice and what's being done to balance tourism with preserving the environment and city.
Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices in Italy
Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices in Italy
V.G. Venturini
Past laws and legislature are important topics to look into when exploring the economy of Venice. Laws could have been implemented after World War II that are still implemented today and affect the stability or the growth of the economy. This online statement provides some insight into such issues and will be helpful when writing the background of our project.
V.G. Venturini
The economic history of Italy, 1860-1990
The economic history of Italy, 1860 - 1990: Recovery after Decline
This is a book that could potentially provide our team with important knowledge about the economic trends of Venice after World War II. With these trends, we can investigate whether or not there are similarities between the past and the present that will help us indicate not only the impact on tourism, but the steady growth of tourism that has occurred. It is a little outdated for recent information and focuses on Italy instead of Venice itself, but can still be beneficial in our research. Whether or not to purchase this book will be decided at our next meeting.
This is a book that could potentially provide our team with important knowledge about the economic trends of Venice after World War II. With these trends, we can investigate whether or not there are similarities between the past and the present that will help us indicate not only the impact on tourism, but the steady growth of tourism that has occurred. It is a little outdated for recent information and focuses on Italy instead of Venice itself, but can still be beneficial in our research. Whether or not to purchase this book will be decided at our next meeting.
A Masked Time of the Year
The Great Book of Italy
Annie Sacerdoti and Maria Laura Della Croce
This is a book that explores the history, culture, and social institutions of Italy as a whole. Specifically for Venice, it describes one of the more popular tourists attractions – Carnivals.
Social events have a huge effect on the Venetian economy, as they bring in tourists from all over the world to witness the beauty of the city in its time of festival. Several cities in Italy hold what is known as Carnivali, or Carnivals. The most well-known hosts of these festivals are Venice and Viareggio. Every year, the Carnival brings massive crowds into Venice for an entire week. Dating back to Roman lupercali (an ancient springtime fertility holiday), Carnivals are spiritual celebrations that transform the city into a stage of fancy dresses and masked people wishing to hide their true identity. Traditionally, those who wore masks wished to hide all forms of identification of themselves so that they could escape social classes for the time being. These Carnivals combined together celebrations o f pagan rights, Christian spirituality, magic, history, and the life/death dichotomy.
The importance of exploring the social aspects of Venice, like these Carnivals, is important in investigating Venetian economy because these kinds of events bring in even more tourists than are already coming to Venice to explore the city. It showcases some Venetian culture and history, while at the same time stimulating the economy. A more prominent impact on the economy from these Carnivals will be further explored in the weeks to come.
Annie Sacerdoti and Maria Laura Della Croce
This is a book that explores the history, culture, and social institutions of Italy as a whole. Specifically for Venice, it describes one of the more popular tourists attractions – Carnivals.
Social events have a huge effect on the Venetian economy, as they bring in tourists from all over the world to witness the beauty of the city in its time of festival. Several cities in Italy hold what is known as Carnivali, or Carnivals. The most well-known hosts of these festivals are Venice and Viareggio. Every year, the Carnival brings massive crowds into Venice for an entire week. Dating back to Roman lupercali (an ancient springtime fertility holiday), Carnivals are spiritual celebrations that transform the city into a stage of fancy dresses and masked people wishing to hide their true identity. Traditionally, those who wore masks wished to hide all forms of identification of themselves so that they could escape social classes for the time being. These Carnivals combined together celebrations o f pagan rights, Christian spirituality, magic, history, and the life/death dichotomy.
The importance of exploring the social aspects of Venice, like these Carnivals, is important in investigating Venetian economy because these kinds of events bring in even more tourists than are already coming to Venice to explore the city. It showcases some Venetian culture and history, while at the same time stimulating the economy. A more prominent impact on the economy from these Carnivals will be further explored in the weeks to come.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Some more useful resources
We've been posting various articles, books, and other sources of information on Venice, tourism, and the economy. The following three resources are useful for studying up on Venice, especially the acqua alta and its impact on the society and economy of Venice.
The Science of Saving Venice
By Caroline J. Fletcher and Jane Da Mosto
This book is an excellent resource of information on the current situation in the Venetian lagoon. Focusing on modern issues, such as flood barriers and local policy, it seeks to explain the urgent need to find a useful solution within the next hundred years. They predict that the city's flooding situation will continue to worsen, as was exemplified by the Great Flood of 1966, and that action must be taken immediately to save the city from its surroundings.
New Approaches to Sustainable Hazard Management in Venice
By Edmund Penning-Rowsell, Peter Winchester, and John Gardiner
(Note: Clicking on the link will connect you to JSTOR. You will need to log in to view the complete file.)
This 1998 article is a selection from The Geographical Journal. Its main focus is a proposed two-phase project that would be implemented over the next 50 years. According to the authors, the plan of mobile barriers is insufficient to save Venice from flooding. Instead, a long-term plan of surveys and analysis, along with short-term temporary flood-proofing systems is the most sustainable method of saving the city.
Lonely Planet: Venice
By Damon Simonis
This book is at first glance a tourist guide. While it does in fact contain in-depth listings of restaurants, tours, events, and attractions, the first few sections provide concise information on the city. Touching on culture, history, economy, and politics, Simonis provides editorial insight on some of the social issues facing Venetians today. This is a good read for someone looking for good tidbits of information about the city, without getting too in-depth or lost in professional jargon.
The Science of Saving Venice
By Caroline J. Fletcher and Jane Da Mosto
This book is an excellent resource of information on the current situation in the Venetian lagoon. Focusing on modern issues, such as flood barriers and local policy, it seeks to explain the urgent need to find a useful solution within the next hundred years. They predict that the city's flooding situation will continue to worsen, as was exemplified by the Great Flood of 1966, and that action must be taken immediately to save the city from its surroundings.
New Approaches to Sustainable Hazard Management in Venice
By Edmund Penning-Rowsell, Peter Winchester, and John Gardiner
(Note: Clicking on the link will connect you to JSTOR. You will need to log in to view the complete file.)
This 1998 article is a selection from The Geographical Journal. Its main focus is a proposed two-phase project that would be implemented over the next 50 years. According to the authors, the plan of mobile barriers is insufficient to save Venice from flooding. Instead, a long-term plan of surveys and analysis, along with short-term temporary flood-proofing systems is the most sustainable method of saving the city.
Lonely Planet: Venice
By Damon Simonis
This book is at first glance a tourist guide. While it does in fact contain in-depth listings of restaurants, tours, events, and attractions, the first few sections provide concise information on the city. Touching on culture, history, economy, and politics, Simonis provides editorial insight on some of the social issues facing Venetians today. This is a good read for someone looking for good tidbits of information about the city, without getting too in-depth or lost in professional jargon.
Past Interactive Qualifying Projects (IQPs)
Many projects have already been completed in Venice pertaining to the Venetian economy and tourism. If you are able to access the WPI network, you can view these past projects by following the links:
Pressing Issues -- A Venetian Socioeconomic Overview
2007
This past IQP in particular happens to be one of the most relevant and recent projects pertaining to our current project goals. It covers an analysis of the retail sector, tourism, and "day trippers" and provides leads in its references to other possible sources of more recent relevance.
The evolution of stores and decline of residential comfort -- the availability of necessary goods in the historical center of Venice.
2005
This project is one of the first comprehensive looks into the retail sector. Creating an early version of the database we intend to make, it will prove invaluable when we need to compile old data.
Residential comfort level -- an analysis of the Venetian retail sector.
2005
Along with the previous project, this IQP took a look at the changes in the Venetian economy and the sentiments of residents who felt their city changing before their eyes.
An assessment of the state of tourism in Venice -- a quantitative estimate and characterization of excursionist tourists.
2000
Estimation of excursionist tourists in the city of Venice.
1999
Although these last two of projects are from 2000 and earlier, they still provide a decent background for this year's project. These projects contain information about the Venetian retail sector, stores, and economy.
Pressing Issues -- A Venetian Socioeconomic Overview
2007
This past IQP in particular happens to be one of the most relevant and recent projects pertaining to our current project goals. It covers an analysis of the retail sector, tourism, and "day trippers" and provides leads in its references to other possible sources of more recent relevance.
The evolution of stores and decline of residential comfort -- the availability of necessary goods in the historical center of Venice.
2005
This project is one of the first comprehensive looks into the retail sector. Creating an early version of the database we intend to make, it will prove invaluable when we need to compile old data.
Residential comfort level -- an analysis of the Venetian retail sector.
2005
Along with the previous project, this IQP took a look at the changes in the Venetian economy and the sentiments of residents who felt their city changing before their eyes.
An assessment of the state of tourism in Venice -- a quantitative estimate and characterization of excursionist tourists.
2000
Estimation of excursionist tourists in the city of Venice.
1999
Although these last two of projects are from 2000 and earlier, they still provide a decent background for this year's project. These projects contain information about the Venetian retail sector, stores, and economy.
Citta di Venezia
Citta di Venezia Statistiche in Pillole
http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1176
This website links to various statistical data on the city of Venice organized into easily understandable graphics and excel files. The entire site is in Italian but it is kept relatively up to date and contains data on various key topics in the Veninomics project, like tourism and population, as well as data on miscellaneous subjects such as sports, music, and municipal police in Venice.
http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1176
This website links to various statistical data on the city of Venice organized into easily understandable graphics and excel files. The entire site is in Italian but it is kept relatively up to date and contains data on various key topics in the Veninomics project, like tourism and population, as well as data on miscellaneous subjects such as sports, music, and municipal police in Venice.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Welcome to the Veninomics Blog!
If you are reading this, you are probably a WPI student, professor, project center member, or very confused person. Because this would be a very short post otherwise, I'll assume you are part of this last category.
Un'Economia Sommersa is the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) for four WPI students in Worcester, Massachusetts. Chelsey Anderson, Rhiannon Chiacchiaro, Shanna Infantino, and Yoshitaka Shiotsu, all Class of 2011, are Team Veninomics. First, a bit of background.
Venice, Italy, is an extremely popular tourist location. Its lagoon locale, diverse art and architecture, and local glass and lace artisans are among the many featurers that draw millions of visitors there each year. However, the local population of Venice is only around 65,000 people, which means that on almost any given day, especially during the tourist season, there can be just as many if not more tourists than residents in the city.
Because of this, the Venetian economy is mainly tourist based. Since WWII the number of tourists in Venice has steadily increased to approximately 2o million annual visitors. The local economy has had to evolve to accommodate these changes, adopting a large hotel and restaurant-based retail sector. In addition, there are many vendors on the street, both legitimate and illicit. Beggars, knock-off retailers, and foreign merchants also make their living on the streets of Venice, offering fake brand-name merchandise to tourists for lower prices than the cart and store owners.
Another factor affecting the Venetian economy is the acqua alta, the high tides that flood Venice periodically. Though there has not been a major catastrophe since the Great Flood of 1966, regular overflow of the lagoon causes many of the squares and stores to become filled with water, making travel and business during these times difficult.
Our project will help identify these problems and their effects on the Venetian economy. We will create an online database of information on the retail sector. Our goal is to make it possible for future IQP groups to help the economy in whatever way possible. Whether the best solution is to reduce tourism, improve local businesses, discourage illegal vendors, or simply observe for the next few years, we hope that Team Veninomics will help lead the way to improving the lives and livelihoods of Venetian residents.
For more information, visit the Venice 2.0 blog created by our advisor, Fabio Carrera or go to the Venice 2.0 homepage.
Until next time, ciao!
Un'Economia Sommersa is the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) for four WPI students in Worcester, Massachusetts. Chelsey Anderson, Rhiannon Chiacchiaro, Shanna Infantino, and Yoshitaka Shiotsu, all Class of 2011, are Team Veninomics. First, a bit of background.
Venice, Italy, is an extremely popular tourist location. Its lagoon locale, diverse art and architecture, and local glass and lace artisans are among the many featurers that draw millions of visitors there each year. However, the local population of Venice is only around 65,000 people, which means that on almost any given day, especially during the tourist season, there can be just as many if not more tourists than residents in the city.
Because of this, the Venetian economy is mainly tourist based. Since WWII the number of tourists in Venice has steadily increased to approximately 2o million annual visitors. The local economy has had to evolve to accommodate these changes, adopting a large hotel and restaurant-based retail sector. In addition, there are many vendors on the street, both legitimate and illicit. Beggars, knock-off retailers, and foreign merchants also make their living on the streets of Venice, offering fake brand-name merchandise to tourists for lower prices than the cart and store owners.
Another factor affecting the Venetian economy is the acqua alta, the high tides that flood Venice periodically. Though there has not been a major catastrophe since the Great Flood of 1966, regular overflow of the lagoon causes many of the squares and stores to become filled with water, making travel and business during these times difficult.
Our project will help identify these problems and their effects on the Venetian economy. We will create an online database of information on the retail sector. Our goal is to make it possible for future IQP groups to help the economy in whatever way possible. Whether the best solution is to reduce tourism, improve local businesses, discourage illegal vendors, or simply observe for the next few years, we hope that Team Veninomics will help lead the way to improving the lives and livelihoods of Venetian residents.
For more information, visit the Venice 2.0 blog created by our advisor, Fabio Carrera or go to the Venice 2.0 homepage.
Until next time, ciao!
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