Venice is sinking. Each year, millions of tourists rush to see this unique city in Italy before it disappears in the sea. The travellers themselves are probably unaware that their combined weight is adding to the problem. Venice has suggested imposing a tax on all visitors, to help pay for restoration of the ancient buildings and public squares and to finance research into ways of preventing further sinking.

As we begin the new century, there are 1.6 billion tourists roaming the world, and the impact of tourism can be devastating. Some say that tourism is ruining the planet. But how and to what extent should we impose restrictions on the tourists’ right to go wherever they wish?

Still other groups point out the damage to local communities, customs and crafts that results from the arrival of huge groups of tourists. Tourism is almost always portrayed as evil. But do local people always want to stay the way they are? Why should they not enjoy the economic benefits of tourism? In many places, it’s tourism that’s actually keeping alive or even reviving the local traditions and crafts, as well as the economy.

So how should the recent explosion of tourism be managed? The travel industry – airlines, hotels, cruise companies – should work with local councils and government agencies to agree upon realistic standards for planning and development in tourist areas. More frequently, the tourist destinations themselves are beginning to realize that they don’t want to “kill the goose that laid the golden egg.” The Caribbean island of St. Lucia, for example, recently turned down a plan to build a cable car and restaurant on top of Pitons, the island’s twin volcanic peaks.