Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former TV anchor Lauran Sanchez will hold their wedding in Venice, Italy this week. However, this three-day, $10 million event has attracted protests from Venetian citizens who oppose the uncontrolled development of urban tourism, saying that “Venice should not become a playground for the super-rich” and vowing to “take back our city.”
Although citizens oppose and threaten to block it, the local government welcomes the related employment and investment.
Bloomberg News reported that the number of tourists in Venice throughout the year has now exceeded the peak of 13 million in 2019, but the resident population continues to decline, making Bezos and Sanchez’s wedding, which is scheduled to be unveiled on the 26th, a target under the anger of citizens over the uncontrolled development of the tourism industry.
According to reports, the 61-year-old billionaire Bezos has booked the entire San Giorgio Island opposite St. Mark’s Square, and celebrity guests are expected to flock to Venice from June 23 to 28.
Italian media reported that almost all luxury hotels were booked by the wedding team, and water taxis were also booked.
The citizens of Venice launched the “No Space for Bezos” campaign, planning to use peaceful means to block the land and water routes leading to the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, one of the rumored wedding venues.
Federica Toninello, a representative of the movement, said, “We protest that Venice is being used as a paper stage, a city that can be used at will.”
Venice Mayor Brugnaro was “ashamed” of the protesters. He said, “Which other city would organize a committee to oppose the wedding of such an important person?”
The tourism industry brings more than $1.5 billion in revenue to Venice’s economy each year and employs more people than any other industry.
This year, Venice is expected to host more than 600 luxurious destination weddings. However, even locals who have no objection to this wedding believe that tourists have become out of control.
“We are not against Bezos’ wedding if it does not stop public services, and we are not against tourism because many of us depend on it for our livelihoods, but we just think it is excessive,” said Matteo Secchi, a hotel receptionist who was born in the city.
