By PAOLO SANTALUCIA, Associated Press
ROME – The ancient Roman Colosseum will host gladiator fights – albeit staged – for the primary time in two millennia as a part of a $1.5 million sponsorship take care of Airbnb geared toward promoting “more conscious tourism.”
But some visitors to the monument Thursday, in addition to housing activists, expressed skepticism concerning the value of the agreement, citing ongoing controversy in lots of cities over the role of short-term rental platforms in promoting overtourism and restricting reasonably priced housing for residents and students.
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Under the agreement announced Wednesday by Airbnb and the Colosseum, the short-term rental giant's sponsorship includes renewing an academic program in the traditional Roman amphitheater that explores the structure's history and gladiators.
Eight users of the platform and their relatives will have the option to participate in fake gladiator fights on May seventh and eighth after the closure of the Colosseum on May seventh and eighth, using the identical underground path that gladiators used to get to the world in ancient Rome. You can apply for the experience freed from charge on November twenty seventh and the “Gladiators” will probably be chosen by lottery.
Colosseum Archaeological Park director Alfonsina Russo told The Associated Press that the deal was related to the discharge of Ridley Scott's latest film “Gladiators II” which opened in Italy on Thursday.
Russo described the sponsorship agreement as certainly one of many such offers to assist fund projects within the park.
The Italian fashion brand Tod's, for instance, has financed a multi-million dollar renovation of the Roman monument, including cleansing, replacing the arches' locking system with latest gates and renewing the underground areas.
Alberto Campailla, the coordinator of the nonprofit Nonna Roma, which focuses on housing and food for the poor, called the Airbnb campaign “a disgrace” and a type of “touristification.”
Airbnb and other platforms that provide short-term rentals are “literally driving people out not only of the city center but also of the outskirts and suburban neighborhoods,” Campailla said.
Tourists from other European cities combating overtourism also expressed criticism of the deal.
“It seems to me that the purpose of the Colosseum today is to be a tourist attraction, but not to create an amusement park,” said Jaime Montero, a tourist from Madrid. “In the end, tourism eats away at the essence of the cities, here in Rome, as in other capitals.”
Salvatore Di Matteo, visiting from Naples, viewed the deal as “another takeover of the territory” by big corporations.
“When they start touching sacred monuments like the Colosseum here in Rome, that is of course something that should make us think and is definitely a little worrying,” he said.
The Colosseum is crucial and largest amphitheater built by the traditional Romans. Built within the 1st century, it was the middle of popular entertainment until the sixth century, hosting hunts and gladiatorial games.
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