UNESCO Recommends Inclusion of Venice on Heritage Danger List

UNESCO has put forward a recommendation to add one of Italy's most iconic yet vulnerable tourist destinations, Venice, to its list of heritage in danger. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is urging the Italian government to take "utmost dedication" in addressing the persistent challenges faced by Venice, including the impacts of climate change and overtourism.

Venice is among the 1,157 locations globally recognized as World Heritage Sites, deemed to possess "outstanding universal value" due to their cultural or natural significance. UNESCO's suggestion to place Venice on the World Heritage in Danger list was proposed by its experts and advisory bodies in preparation for the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September.

The resolution draft asserts that little substantial progress has been made in tackling the complex issues linked to mass tourism, development initiatives, and climate change. These problems, the draft argues, contribute to the deterioration and harm inflicted on architectural structures, urban areas, and the overall cultural and social identity of Venice, jeopardizing its inherent cultural, environmental, and landscape attributes and values.

Weather and Tourism Struggles in Venice

In recent times, Venice has faced a rollercoaster of weather-related challenges. Earlier this year, severe drought conditions prevented gondolas, water taxis, and ambulances from navigating certain canals. In November 2019, widespread flooding endangered historical treasures and structures.

Overcrowding due to tourism has been a longstanding issue for Venice. UNESCO acknowledges certain efforts to address this, such as the prohibition of large ships entering the San Marco Basin – Giudecca Canal. Nonetheless, the report underscores that the cumulative impacts of human intervention, including unchecked development, climate change, and mass tourism, imperil the "outstanding universal value" of Venice.

The Municipality of Venice expressed its intention to review the proposed decision from UNESCO's World Heritage Committee and to engage in discussions with the Italian government, the responsible State Party in interactions with UNESCO.

While the Italian Culture Ministry has not issued a statement in response to the UNESCO recommendation, CNN's attempts to contact the Italian Tourism Ministry and the Municipality of Venice had not garnered a response by the time of reporting.