Italian tour guides protest in Venice, Rome, and Naples over COVID-19 crisis

Tour guides in Italy have staged protests in Venice, Rome, and Naples, organized by AGTA (Associazione Guide Turistiche Abilitate), to demand government support amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The demonstrations included flash-mobs with masks and social distancing, starting simultaneously at 11:00 AM in Venice (in front of the Basilica della Salute) and Naples (Piazza del Gesù). Isabella Ruggiero, national president of AGTA, stated that the crisis threatens to destroy the profession if the state does not intervene to guarantee the right to work in all public cultural sites. The guides have been excluded from government aid under the 'Cura Italia' and 'Rilancio' decrees, receiving only €600 in March and April, with many excluded from the €1,000 in May due to criteria ignoring tourism specifics. The profession is not expected to resume fully before March 2021. Demands include a dedicated tourism fund, specific measures agreed with representatives, monthly indemnity for freelancers, extended support for cooperative workers, two-year interest-free tax payment plans, and a strategy to restore Italy's international competitiveness. The protests highlight the shift from overtourism to empty cities, underscoring tourism's impact on the entire Italian economy.