When travelling, do not leave footprints!

LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TOURS
IN THE VENICE LAGOON

We have always dedicated time to our guests:
listening and paying close attention are all part of our welcome.
We encourage people to come and see local life for themselves
as a way of presenting their destination as it is in daily life
We set great store on delivering an authentic experience
We offer responsible tourism which
respects the environment and the host culture
We put the individual first,
and their expectations and desires to share their excitement and passion.

Why eco-sustainable tourism in Venice?

You will return home enriched with the knowledge of the authentic culture, history, art and nature that surrounds Venice. And you will also come away with a deeper understanding of the problems of the city and its lagoon face.
You will not just simply be a mere consumer of mass tourist tat. You will be passionate about the stories you hear, you will spot the details which are all but invisible to those who don’t take the time to look attentively. Let our local experienced guides enthuse you as they tell the tales of every locale. Meet the artisans, lace makers, fishermen and connect with the lives of the people who are making a real contribution to preserving true Venetian culture.
Because sustainable tourism coexists in harmony with local communities. Venice is fragile. And Venice is suffering from the pressure of tourism. Do not give up visiting the most beautiful city in the world, but please be gentle with it. Please respect the everyday routines and living spaces of ordinary Venetians and those who still live on the islands of the lagoon.
You can help support the local economy. Only put your trust in tour operators who can demonstrate that they really care about ethicality and sustainability. Only buy from shops selling genuine, typical, local products and let yourself be guided by the advice of local residents. Responsible tourism is the driver of local and regional development. By coming on a trip to Venice, you bring economic and cultural value to its residents.
Sustainable travel protects the environment and the delicate balance between tourism and the ecosystem, and also identity and cultural traditions.
It is good for future generations and for our children when we decide to travel together with them responsibly. That’s because sustainable tourism does not exploit and does not impoverish and instead aims to safeguard local culture and community.

What makes us different?

We are a local company founded over thirty years ago in Venice.
Guides who are professional naturalists and environmentalists.
Skills as educators so as to achieve maximum buy-in from children and teenagers.
Profound knowledge of Venice and its surroundings.
Reliability and experience in the design of tailor-made tours and trips.
Leader of a network of companies for ethical and sustainable tourism.
When designing a tourist experience, we always pay attention to the impact on the environment.
Travel experiences and guided tours in small groups.
We prefer slow movement by bicycle, walking or traditional local boating craft.
We recommend the low season when Venice and the lagoon are at their most evocative!
Support and personal assistance before departure and during your stay.
We offer you a travel experience where you learn about the real authentic Venice, with the utmost respect and, where possible, involving local residents.
We have ethical corporate policies which respect the environment and people as individuals and have sustainable development as our key point of reference.
And above all: our values and competences are all certified! We started up our business in sustainable tourism long before it had become a trendy idea. And we have always followed up our fine words and good intentions with concrete actions!

Our latest projects and milestones

2019 SlowVenice case history at:

Conference “When tourism is a nightmare: managing overtourism” – Milan, 10th March, Fair “Fà la cosa giusta” – Terre di Mezzo Editore

Conference “Sustainable Tourism” – Venice, 8th April – ETOA Trade Association for tour operators and suppliers in European destinations https://www.etoa.org/events/sustainable-tourism/

2018 SlowVenice case history at:

Study Conference “Overtourism, a worldwide phenomenon, a challenge for social and responsible tourism” – Perugia, 27th November – Bitac, Association and Cooperative Tourism Exchange.

Strategy Innovation Forum “The impacts of Corporate and Territorial Social Responsibility” – Venice, 25th October – Ca’ Foscari University Foundation

Event “Il Bello dell’Italia”, ” Venice and the lagoon: the challenge of sustainability ” – Venice, 24th October – CORRIERE DELLA SERA

Study Conference “Quality in sustainable tourism. Tools for analysis, evaluation and certification” – Bologna, 12th October – Association of Environmental Analysts

2018 Special Chamber of Commerce Award

30th September – Limosa/SlowVenice is awarded the Special Prize of the Chamber of Commerce within the framework of the Awarding of Work, Economic Progress and Innovation of the Venice and Rovigo Chamber of Commerce.

2018 European project to reduce marine waste

SlowVenice is a partner of the Interreg project “ML-REPAIR — Reducing and Preventing, an integrated Approach to Marine Litter Management in the Adriatic Sea”, which involves collaborative activities between different entities to strengthen joint governance between Italy and Croatia on marine waste management, by addressing local communities, and the fishing and tourism sectors.
Read the dedicated article: Plastic at sea – Italy and Croatia join together to make the Mediterranean more sustainable
Download the curriculum of our activities in the field of European planning

2018 “Laguna in rete”.

We are founder of “OTS – Operatori del Turismo Sostenibile”(Association of Sustainable Tourism Companies in the Lagoon of Venice), of which SlowVenice’s CEO is Chair. Together with OTS we launched “Laguna in Rete”, the first Festival of Sustainable Tourism in order to introduce residents and tourists alike to a gentle and relaxed way to visit the Venice lagoon, which is a fragile, unique environment to be visited following sustainability criteria.
Read the dedicated article:“Laguna in rete” for sustainable tourism in the Venice lagoon

2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism

SlowVenice is a concept by Limosa, an environmental guide co-operative and Tour Operator. 2017 was an important milestone for us.

In 2017 Limosa marked the 30th anniversary of its foundation
2017 was also the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of Venice and the lagoon as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Read the dedicated article: Limosa turns 30, the story and dreams of a group of young people

Activities carried out during the International Year of Sustainable Tourism:

“When travelling, do not leave footprints!” Project – Recovery of CO2 emissions through credits obtained by SlowVenice’s low-carbon footprint travel packages. The credits were acquired by a certified organic fishing reserve that is developing carbon dioxide storage through the action of aquatic plants as part of a project carried out following the guidelines set out in the Kyoto Protocol.
Involved by MIBACT – Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism – in coordinating a roundtable at the event “100 start-up tourism” on 10 April 2017 in Rome and as example of best practice at the Italian Year of Sustainable Tourism Fair organized on 14 June 2017 in Rome (Read the article)
Included in the portal of the UNWTO World Tourism Organization, dedicated to the International Year of Sustainable Tourism, in the section“ Solutions“
In 2017 we signed up to the Charter of Sustainable Tourism of the North lagoon of Venice as part of the Life Vimine project.
Engaged by LifeGate, sustainable lifestyle portal, to organize their stay in Venice during the Art Biennale.

2016 Unesco Culture Tourism Award

Winners of the first Unesco “Cristina Ambrosini” Culture Tourism Award with its travel package: “The Venice lagoon from Sustainable Perspectives”

2015 Skal International Sustainable Tourism Award

The only Italian company qualifying among the top three internationally in the Tour Operator category with its “Venice: another tourism is possible”project.

2014 Editorial project “The Last of the Venetians”

We collaborated with photographer Karl Johaentges on the editorial project “Die letzen Venezianer“ (“The Last of the Venetians“) published by the Publishing House of Monaco Terra Magica. 400 pages with over 500 photos and testimonials, two years of research and interviews with residents of Venice and the islands, to give voice to those who still live and work in the Venice lagoon. In the summer of 2015, an exhibition with extracts of photos and interviews was set up at the Massimiliana Tower of Sant’Erasmo with the collaboration of the Institution Parco della Laguna Nord — Comune di Venezia.

2014 SlowVenice Network founded

We are the founding members and leaders of SlowVenice Network – a network of local tourist enterprises with deep roots in the Venice’s ‘gronda lagunare’ – the marshland where the lagoon meets the mainland stretching from Chioggia to the Cavallino Coast. The network came first in the Call for “Objective Expo” Proposals by the local Chamber of Commerce. It would be the first of many awards linked to the values expressed through ethical and sustainable tourism. SlowVenice Network companies have signed an clearly articulated code of ethics espousing the values of hospitality, environmental sustainability, respect and attention to the needs of resident populations, and the protection and enhancement of local traditions and culture.