Venice to ban large cruise ships after UNESCO threatens to “blacklist” city

Venice to ban large cruise ships after UNESCO threatens to “blacklist” city

Italy will officially ban large cruise ships from Venice next month to avoid getting “blacklisted” by the United Nations.

The Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini announced the decision on 13 July, declaring the city’s waterways a “national monument”.

The ban will apply to ships larger than 25,000 tonnes, with a waterline hull length of 180 metres or an aerial draft exceeding 35 metres, meaning large yachts may also be excluded from the tourism hotspot.

It applies to Saint Mark’s Square basin and the Giudecca Canal.

The announcement coincided with the Extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, which planned to discuss the conservation of the historic city.

In a statement, Franceschini said the government drafted the urgent decree to dodge “the real risk of the city being put on the blacklist of “World Heritage in Danger” sites, which UNESCO recommended last month, according to the Associated Press.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi said, in general, ships carrying up to 200 passengers would be allowed, in comparison to the thousands carried by the large ships the city has grown used to.

The decree also offers compensation to businesses affected by the ban until another docking area can be established outside of the city, most likely near the industrial Port of Marghera.

Last month, cruise ships began to trickle into the Venetian Lagoon for the first time since February 2020, met by thousands of protesters on the waterfront and in small boats on the Giudecca Canal, chanting anti-cruise slogans.

Before the global pandemic, cruise passengers made up about 73 per cent of Venice’s visitors, but only contributed 18 per cent of tourism dollars, according to The New York Times.

The US news outlet also estimates overtourism has contributed to around half of the city’s residents leaving over the past 40 years.

Italian director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Francesco Galietti, welcomed the news and said it was a positive decision and could mark the beginning of a “new era”.

Galietti said the new docking sites should hopefully be ready by 2022, when the bulk of tourists are expected to return.

In August last year, the Italian government said it was looking at alternative solutions for large cruise ships entering Venice following mass public protests and a cruise ship crashing into the dock at Guidecca Canal.

At the time, Italy’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Danilo Toninelli said the country planned to reroute about one-third of the cruise ships booked to visit Venice towards new berths.

“We’ve been talking about big ships for 15 years and nothing has been done. These floating palaces will start to go elsewhere,” Toninelli said.


Featured image source: Twitter/@dariofrance

Latest News

  • Events

AFCM announces a record-breaking year with a direct economic benefit of $3.79 million

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music has announced a record-breaking year following its 10-day event with a direct economic benefit of $3.79 million. Independent research shows the event, which was held from 26 July to 4 August, generated a total spending in Queensland by all attendees of $19.98million, up 114 per cent from $9.32million in […]

  • News

Review: Thai Airways Business class – Sydney to Istanbul: Is it worth the splurge?

Experiencing Thai Airways in pure comfort, onboard the Airbus A350-900 Sydney to Istanbul via Bangkok. Is it worth the splurge?  Pre-Flight and Check-In Flying TG 472 Sydney – Bangkok at 15:50, you certainly miss all the chaos at Sydney airport, meaning a faster and more efficient check in process. As a Business Class passenger, you’re […]

  • Hotels

Albury’s luxury boutique hotel, CIRCA 1928, is up for grabs

Luxury boutique hotel business CIRCA 1928, in the heart of the Albury’s CBD, is up for grabs. CRE Brokers has been appointed as the Exclusive Agency for the leasehold sale of the hotel in a major regional growth centre of NSW. Set in the tree-lined Dean Street, surrounded by the retail, food and entertainment offerings, […]

  • Events

ICC Sydney hosts Global Nature Positive Summit

The International Convention Centre Sydney, managed by ASM Global, hosted the world’s first Global Nature Positive Summit from 8 to 10 October. Around 1,000 delegates including international Ministers, environmental policy experts across government and corporate sectors, Indigenous People, and investors attended the landmark event. At the Summit, leaders explored effective ways to realise global commitments […]