Venice at risk of 'irreversible' damage from overtourism, Unesco warns
Will PayneVenice should be added to a list of World Heritage Sites at risk of "irreversible" damage from "overwhelming" tourism, Unesco has said.
The UN’s cultural agency said the combination of mass tourism and rising sea levels due to climate change has left the Italian city at risk of damage beyond repair, the BBC reported.
The agency, which aims to encourage the better preservation of the site for future generations, blamed the Italian authorities for a "lack of strategic vision" to solve the problems faced by the city.
A spokesperson for the Venice municipality told Reuters they will "carefully read" the proposal and then discuss their findings with the Italian government.
Venice has over several years taken steps to address overtourism. A ban on large cruise ships entering the city came into effect this time two years ago, driven by years of lobbying and threats from Unesco to blacklist Italy for failing to ban cruise liners from the World Heritage Site.
Amsterdam took a similar step last month when its local council backed plans to curb cruise calls as part of a wider effort to shake-up the city’s tourism economy.
Venice had also been due from early January to introduce a €3 to €10 fee for anyone wishing to visit the city centre, with the price dependent on the demand on a given day and time.
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