In travel news for August 2, 2023 we talk about Venice is in danger of being added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site danger list.
Venice - Italy's floating city, is in jeopardy, says UNESCO. The United Nations organization has proposed the inclusion of Venice and its lagoon to its World Heritage in Danger list, criticizing Italy for insufficient action against the dual threats of climate change and Overtourism.
According to UNESCO, Venice grapples with "long-standing but urgent issues," the resolution of which has been hindered by "a lack of overall joint strategic vision for the longterm preservation of the property." The organization argues that the measures proposed by the Italian government are "currently insufficient and not detailed enough."
Venice, a city famed for its intricate network of canals and rich cultural heritage, has long suffered from Overtourism. The city experienced a record influx of travelers during the 2019 Carnival, with about 193,000 people visiting the historic center in a single day. Efforts to curb visitor numbers through a fee for day-trippers have been stymied by objections and delays.
The UNESCO critique also indicated that the Italian government's communication has been lacking since the last Committee session in 2021, when the organization had already threatened to place Venice on the list.
A spokesperson for the Venice municipality informed Reuters that the city would carefully review the proposed decision by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee and consult with the government on the matter.
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre regularly scrutinizes the state of the organization's 1,157 World Heritage sites. A committee comprising representatives from 21 UNESCO member states will convene in Riyadh this September to assess over 200 sites. They will decide which ones merit being added to the danger list. Almost 10 sites are recommended for this dubious distinction, joining existing entries like the historic center of Odessa in Ukraine, the town of Timbuktu in Mali, and various sites in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. This year, the cities of Kyiv and Lviv in Ukraine have also been recommended for the danger list.
