Florence will host the first-ever G7 summit entirely focused on tourism from November 13 to 15, 2024, led by Italy’s Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè. Ministers and delegation heads from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union will gather to discuss tourism as a driver of economic growth and social development and to create shared guidelines for a more sustainable tourism industry.
Key agenda topics include recognizing the sector’s economic, social, and cultural value and developing unified strategies to advance sustainability in tourism. Experts from international organizations such as the OECD and the UN’s World Tourism Organization will provide technical insights on promoting accessible, responsible tourism that respects local resources.
A central theme for this Italian-led G7 is the “human factor,” seen as essential to the tourism experience. Italy’s priorities include using tourism to spur socio-economic growth, enhancing human capital through inclusion and skill development, and fostering innovation through digitalization and AI.
Ahead of the summit, a special side event on November 13 at Florence’s Palazzo Spini Feroni will bring together leaders from Italy’s private sector—fashion, music, cruises, food and wine, and design—to discuss the future of tourism in the AI era and explore the investments needed to sustain global competitiveness.
Over the weekend, activists from the association “Salviamo Firenze” staged a visible protest against the spread of short-term tourist rentals in Florence. The group placed hundreds of bright red stickers, forming an “X,” on keyboxes throughout the city. These keyboxes are commonly used by property owners to give tourists access to rental apartments, even in the owner’s absence, facilitating the growth of short-term accommodations.
The protest highlights growing frustration over the impact of tourism on Florence, a city grappling with the challenges of overtourism. “Florence is dying from unchecked tourism and speculation,” the group posted on its Facebook page, claiming responsibility for the action. This demonstration is part of a broader movement across Italy and Europe to address concerns about the impact of short-term rentals on local communities and housing availability.
Discover more from Florence Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.