Estimated Economic Impact of About 1.5 Trillion Won
Citizens Still Oppose: "Private Use of the City"
The ultra-luxurious wedding of Jeff Bezos, one of the world’s richest individuals, has sparked intense controversy, but it is also analyzed to have brought a massive economic benefit to the Italian economy.
According to Yonhap News on the 28th, citing the Italian Ministry of Tourism’s announcement on the 27th (local time), the wedding of Bezos and his fianc?e Lauren Sanchez in Venice is expected to generate an economic impact of approximately 957 million euros (about 1.5 trillion Korean won).
According to the Ministry of Tourism, this amount is equivalent to about 68% of Venice’s total annual tourism revenue.
The Ministry of Tourism stated, “More than 200 guests are believed to have attended this event,” and evaluated that “it had a significant impact on the entire local service industry, including hotels, restaurants, and transportation.”
On the 28th (local time), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez held their wedding ceremony in Venice, Italy. Photo by Yonhap News
Bezos, the founder of Amazon, held a three-day wedding ceremony in Venice with Sanchez, a former broadcast journalist, starting on the 26th. During this period, global celebrities such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, broadcaster Oprah Winfrey, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and influencer Kim Kardashian attended as guests, drawing much attention.
According to Luca Zaia, governor of Veneto, where Venice is located, it is estimated that at least 40 million euros (about 64 billion Korean won) were spent on this wedding alone.
However, criticism persists that such a lavish event made private use of a public asset, the city itself. Venice civic groups also staged protests in various places, displaying slogans such as “No space for Bezos.”
In response, Daniela Santanche, Italy’s Minister of Tourism, emphasized that attention should be focused on the opportunities created by the wedding, rather than the controversies surrounding it.
She added, “This event goes beyond a simple private occasion and can serve as a real driving force for Italy’s tourism industry,” and noted that “it is expected to have various positive effects, including enhancing the national image, creating jobs, and attracting tourists.”
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