Housing Crisis Escalates in Naples Amidst Tourism Boom
As Naples grapples with an ongoing housing crisis, long-term residents are increasingly being displaced in favor of short-term rentals, hotels, and Airbnb listings, reports 24brussels. Many families have lived in their homes for generations, yet they lack the means to contest this upheaval. Residents have witnessed their apartments transformed into tourist accommodations, eroding the fabric of their communities.
“So gradually, one by one, long-term residents have been pushed out to make room for tourists and temporary renters,” a local resident lamented, highlighting the stark changes within their neighborhood. This situation has become so dire that urban planning discussions have shifted focus to revitalizing the eastern parts of the city, which are currently marked by neglect and abandonment, according to urban planner Capretti. The initiative aims to “recover lost livability in the historic center by building it in the eastern zone” — effectively displacing residents to make space for an influx of tourists.
Gaia Portolano, who works at a tourist information point, illustrated the friction between locals and tourists: “I once heard about an elderly Neapolitan woman who lived in the city center and couldn’t get home because the streets were too crowded. A tourist overheard her complaining and told her that she was the one living in the wrong place.” This interaction underscores the tensions that arise from overtourism in Naples.
Despite the mounting challenges for residents, proponents of the tourism surge assert that platforms such as Airbnb are beneficial for small landlords. However, recent 2023 data from Avella raises concerns that nearly two-thirds of Airbnb hosts own multiple properties, with the top five hosts managing approximately 500 listings. This trend suggests that large companies, rather than individual homeowners, dominate the rental market. Even among single-property owners, many hail from wealthier cities like Rome or Milan, complicating the local housing situation further.
As Naples continues to navigate the delicate balance between tourism and resident welfare, the city faces critical decisions that will shape its future. The ongoing struggle for housing stability remains at the forefront of community discussions, impacting the lives of countless residents.
