Italy’s government has approved measures to ban large cruise ships in Venice’s historic lagoon to protect the site from over-tourism.
Access to the lagoon and its iconic St Mark’s Square has for years been a bone of contention between environmental campaigners and tourism associations and cruise operators. Tensions heightened in 2019 when a cruise ship crashed into a small tourist boat inside the lagoon, injuring five people.
Tensions heightened in 2019 when a cruise ship crashed into a small tourist boat inside the lagoon, injuring five people.
With Venice set to welcome back its traditional throngs of visitors this summer, the issue has become a test of strength on both sides.
The government approved a decree to ban large cruise ships and large commercial vessels from the lagoon from August 1, while new docking ports further from the city are being considered, according to a statement. The cabinet also set aside €157m (R2.721bn) to build a temporary docking port in nearby Marghera.
The UN’s Unesco this week recommended that Venice be placed on its list of World Heritage in Danger sites.
— Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
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