Venice’s UNESCO Blacklisting Raises Concerns Over Over-Tourism and Climate Change Threats
Venice, a city renowned for its architectural grandeur and artistic heritage, is facing mounting challenges due to over-tourism and the adverse effects of climate change. Recently, the UN cultural agency UNESCO recommended adding Venice to its world heritage site blacklist, citing the city’s failure to adequately address these issues and warning of irreversible changes.
Despite Venice’s efforts to protect its ecosystem and cultural treasures in recent years, UNESCO believes that more needs to be done. The organization emphasized that mass tourism, development projects, and climate change are causing deterioration and damage to the city’s buildings, urban areas, and overall cultural and social identity.
The city’s economy has already suffered significant setbacks, including the devastating floods in November 2019 and the subsequent decline in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While tourism has started to recover, it has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels. However, experts caution that official visitor numbers significantly underestimate the true magnitude of tourism in Venice.
For instance, calculations by Fabio Carrera, a professor at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, suggest that prior to the pandemic, an average of 82,000 visitors flooded into Venice every day, resulting in an estimated annual tourist count of around 30 million. These numbers highlight the pressing issue of over-tourism and its impact on the fragile city.
To address some of these concerns, moveable barriers were implemented in 2020 to protect Venice from high tides, which had previously caused periodic flooding. Additionally, Italy’s government banned giant cruise liners from approaching famous landmarks in Venice, such as the Piazza San Marco, putting an end to long-standing disputes with local residents.
Nevertheless, over-tourism and Venice’s structural fragility remain persistent problems. UNESCO’s recommendations are corroborated by local residents and business owners who have witnessed the detrimental effects of excessive tourism. They argue that more needs to be done to strike a balance and find sustainable solutions.
While some disagree with UNESCO’s assessment, claiming that Venice is well-protected and that tourism is vital for the city’s economy, others emphasize the negative consequences of uncontrolled tourism. Traditional artisans have abandoned their professions and left the city due to rising costs of living and the lack of non-tourism-related job opportunities. As a result, Venice’s population has dwindled to just under 50,000, compared to 175,000 in the 1950s.
To address these issues, a comprehensive approach is needed. Efforts should focus not only on regulating tourism flows but also on raising awareness about the lagoon ecosystem and making tourists more conscious of its specificities. Protecting the city’s cultural heritage and ensuring the well-being of its residents require a balance between promoting tourism and safeguarding the city’s unique identity.
While Venice’s future remains uncertain, it is clear that proactive measures must be taken to mitigate the impact of over-tourism and climate change. The city’s administration, in collaboration with the Italian government, must carefully consider UNESCO’s recommendation and work towards finding sustainable solutions that will preserve Venice’s beauty for generations to come.
