The Role of Water and Tourism Management in Venice and New Orleans

Abstract

This article examines the similarities and differences between New Orleans, USA, and Venice, Italy – two coastal cities built on river sediment that are extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels and climate change. In addition to their proximity to water, both cities are characterised by a strong economic dependence on the tourism and hospitality industry. Their adaption to increasing climate change requires different approaches and strategies which have survived progressive degradation during the last centuries. In both cases, various anthropogenic, morphologic factors and global changes have contributed to coastal erosion. Both cities' tourism numbers exceed carrying capacity and potentially pose a risk to local community well-being. The study aims to illustrate how adaptation and mitigation policies (or lack thereof) have evolved in these two international cities and develop new mitigation strategies to minimise negative impacts on the tourism economy and infrastructure.