UNESCO recommends putting Venice on list of heritage in danger

Overcrowding and the impact of climate change could put the canal city of Venice on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites in danger.

Overtourism and the impact of climate change could put Venice on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites in danger. (Photo: Reuters)

The United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recommended that Venice, one of Italy's most famous and fragile tourist destinations, be added to its list of heritage sites in danger, calling on the Italian government to "make every effort" to address "longstanding problems" in Venice, which has struggled for years with overtourism and the impacts of climate change.

Venice is one of 1,157 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, places with cultural and natural values of “outstanding universal value”.

The recommendation to put Venice on the list of World Heritage in Danger was put on the agenda by UNESCO and the experts of the advisory body ahead of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in September.

The draft resolution says there has been “no significant progress in addressing persistent and complex issues relating in particular to mass tourism, development projects and climate change”.

The draft resolution argues that these problems are causing deterioration and damage to buildings and urban areas, undermining the cultural and social identity of buildings and threatening the integrity of Venice's cultural, environmental and landscape attributes and values.

Venice has faced a series of weather-related problems in recent years.

Back in February, the city was in a drought so severe that gondolas, water taxis and ambulances could not navigate some canals. In November 2019, flooding was so severe that historic buildings and treasures were at risk.

Overtourism is also a problem in Venice, although UNESCO has recognized some efforts by authorities to reduce tourism, such as banning large ships from entering the San Marco basin - Giudecca Canal.

However, the report said “the impact of continued degradation due to human intervention, including continued development, the impacts of climate change and mass tourism risk causing irreversible changes to Venice’s OUV (outstanding universal value)”.

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