A strange summer: half-empty beaches and packed cities

This summer has been strange, there's no point beating around the bush. Accustomed to the usual images of crowded beaches and endless queues to the sea, we found ourselves faced with an almost opposite scenario: beach resorts less crowded than expected and cities of art invaded by tourists.
Walking through the centre of Florence, Rome or Venice, one had the impression that the whole world had gathered there. Meanwhile, along some coastlines, even in the middle of August, there were still free sunbeds and closed umbrellas. A paradox that clearly shows how much our habits are changing.
Perhaps because the sea is no longer so simple. Increasingly high temperatures make it difficult to stay in the sun for hours, and the cost of a day at the beach has risen considerably. Not so much the price of deckchairs, sunbeds and umbrellas, but rather that of extra services: restaurants, hot showers and all those little comforts that, at the end of the day, make you say: 'I should have gone to the city, where I have air conditioning everywhere and definitely spend less!'.
In general, many travellers seem to be looking for something else: events, culture, good food, "different" experiences. Cities, with their museums, festivals and clubs, have offered just that.

But can cities cope?
The problem is that, while beaches have seen a drop in visitor numbers, cities have struggled to cope with the impact: kilometre-long queues, overcrowded public transport, restaurants stormed by crowds. Not exactly the idea of a relaxing holiday that many had in mind, especially since — lacking a culture of "summer" cities — many managers, owners and hoteliers have taken holidays, days off or periodic closures, leaving tourists feeling a little lost.

Questions to ask ourselves for the future
Perhaps the real challenge will be understanding how to find a balance. There are questions we should all start asking ourselves, not just those who work in tourism:

• Can we better distribute tourist flows between the sea, cities, mountains and villages?
• Can we imagine a more sustainable form of tourism that does not suffocate places but enhances them?
• Can we learn to travel during less crowded periods, discovering the beauty of Italy in spring or autumn?

Perhaps it is time to change our perspective
This "unusual" summer could be a sign: tourism as we know it is changing. The beaches will not disappear, of course, but perhaps they will become spaces to be experienced in a different way. And cities, if they want to continue to welcome visitors, will have to rethink their limits.
And what about us travellers? Perhaps we should learn to choose more consciously. Not only where to go, but also when and how to get there.

And you? Did you choose the sea or the city this summer?