Venice escaped inclusion on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in danger on Thursday, a decision welcomed by local authorities but criticized by environmentalists and scientists alarmed by the impact of mass tourism and climate change.
At a meeting in Saudi Arabia, member states of the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) It ignored experts’ conclusions that Venice’s “outstanding universal value” is under “a growing and increasingly urgent threat.”
At the same time, we will praise the city’s conservation efforts, in particular a last-minute pilot project, approved two days ago, which will see the first city in Venice charge a tax of five euros to tourists who leave for just one day. the city.
Venice had also avoided being included on the list of places in danger two years ago, after the government of Rome announced a ban on large cruise ships passing through St. Mark’s Square and the Giudecca canal.
The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, He welcomed the decision as proof that “Venice is not at risk” and described the experts’ recommendations as misleading.
However, civic groups continue to emphasize the threat that mass tourism poses to Venice, which they say, is transforming the city into a mere destinationdepriving it of its lifeblood as a thriving center that would attract both residents and new businesses.
The recently announced tax, which will be paid online, will only cover a maximum of 30 days when the number of tourists is traditionally higher, and experts stress that it only reinforces the passivity of local authorities.
The Union of Concerned Scientists noted that the decision “signals an alarming trend that nations are not being responsible for protecting some of the most iconic and irreplaceable historical and natural sites in the world.”
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee had recommended Venice on the list of sites in danger, considering that the So far, Italy has not taken sufficient measures to combat the deterioration of the site.
Following the decision, the commission reiterated its concerns and highlighted that “further progress is still necessary for the proper conservation” of Venice and its lagoon.
Italy has until December 2024 to submit a detailed plan, which will be discussed at the world heritage committee meeting in 2025.
Venice, an island city founded in the 5th century and which became a great maritime power in the 10th century, extends over 118 islets, according to UNESCO, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
The Serenissima It is one of the most visited cities in the world, with 100,000 tourists spending the night in Venice at the peak of tourism, plus tens of thousands of daily visitors.
Source: Observadora
