Venice: Italian government makes overdue decision - Venetians breathe easy

Huge cruise lines have been causing trouble in Venice for years.

Not only the Venetians saw the world cultural heritage threatened.

Now the Italian government has responded.

Venice - The Italian government has decided that from August 1st, large cruise ships will no longer be allowed to enter Venice. Years of debates and warnings from environmentalists preceded the decision. The ban was announced shortly before an important meeting of the Unesco World Heritage Committee. Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi speaks of an "important step" to protect the Venice lagoon, and the largest Italian tourism association of a "good compromise".

Infrastructure Minister Enrico Giovannini announced the decision on Tuesday evening after a cabinet meeting.

This is a "necessary step to protect the environment, the landscape and the artistic and cultural integrity of Venice," said Giovannini.

Draghi also announced financial aid to mitigate the employment impact.

Venice: In the future, cruise ships are to call at industrial ports

In the future, cruise ships weighing more than 25,000 tons, more than 180 meters in length or more than 35 meters in height will call at the industrial port of Marghera.

Ships that exceed certain emission standards are also affected.

Smaller cruise ships should still be allowed to dock in the city center.

The government only sees this as a temporary solution.

In the long term, she is relying on a new, permanent terminal.

Cruise ships: residents and the environment suffer from tourist flows

Waves caused by the huge ships damage the foundations of the world heritage city of Venice and threaten the sensitive ecological balance in the lagoon.

The ships that sail extremely close along the coast also pose a threat to other ships. For years, critics have been demanding that the gigantic boxes disappear from the picturesque cityscape of the Serenissima.

Before the corona pandemic, millions of visitors flocked to the lagoon city on the cruise ships every year.

They provided an enormous economic boom, but the constant sight of the ships in front of St. Mark's Square was too much for many residents.

The debate flared up again after the cruise giants returned at the beginning of June after a long break caused by corona.

Venice: cruise ships threaten World Heritage status

The ban comes well in advance of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in China from July 16 to 31.

At the end of June, the UN cultural organization proposed putting Venice on the Red List of World Heritage in Danger.

She explicitly urged a "more sustainable tourism".

With the decision, his government also wanted to avoid the "real danger" that Venice would be classified as a world heritage site at risk, said Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini.

Venice: Loss of income should be compensated

Infrastructure Minister Giovannini announced investments of 157 million euros in the port of Maghera.

At the same time, the government promised to compensate for the loss of income in the affected sector, in particular the terminal operator, its subcontractors and logistics companies.

The Vice President of the Confturismo Tourism Association, Marco Michielli, spoke of a "good compromise" in an initial reaction.

The solution with the industrial port Maghera will secure "jobs and port operations in Venice", but at the same time relieve Venice's Giudecca Canal, he explained.

Venice: International stars fought for the preservation of the cultural identity

In early June, international artists such as Mick Jagger, Wes Anderson and Tilda Swinton issued an open letter calling on Draghi and the Italian President Sergio Mattarella to completely ban cruise ships in Venice.

In the letter they also called for better management of tourist flows, the protection of the lagoon's ecosystem and the fight against property speculation in order to preserve "the physical integrity, but also the cultural identity" of the city.

(afp)