UNESCO has made a recommendation to add Venice, one of Italy's most popular and vulnerable tourist destinations, to its heritage danger list. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization is calling on the Italian government to address the long-standing challenges faced by the city, including the impact of excessive tourism and climate change.

Currently designated as a World Heritage Site, Venice is among 1,157 places recognized for their exceptional cultural or natural significance. The proposal to include Venice on the World Heritage in Danger list was put forward by UNESCO and its advisory body experts, in anticipation of the 45th session of the agency's World Heritage Committee, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September.

The draft resolution emphasizes the lack of significant progress in tackling the persistent and complex issues related to mass tourism, development projects, and climate change in Venice. These problems have led to the deterioration and damage of the city's historical structures and urban areas, posing a threat to its cultural, environmental, and landscape values.

Venice has faced a rollercoaster of weather-related challenges in recent years. In February of this year, a severe drought made it impossible for essential transportation means like gondolas, water taxis, and ambulances to navigate some of the canals. Additionally, flooding in November 2019 endangered historical treasures and buildings.

Overtourism has been an ongoing concern for Venice, prompting measures like the prohibition of large ships from entering the San Marco Basin - Giudecca Canal. However, UNESCO's report highlights that the continued deterioration caused by human intervention, combined with ongoing development, climate change impacts, and mass tourism, could result in irreversible damage to the city's outstanding universal value.

The Municipality of Venice, in response to the recommendation, stated that it will carefully assess the proposed decision and engage in discussions with the Italian government, which is the State Party interacting with UNESCO. As of now, the Italian Culture Ministry, Italian Tourism Ministry, and the Municipality of Venice have not issued any official responses to the UNESCO recommendation.

UNESCO's call to action underscores the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by Venice to preserve its unique heritage and ensure sustainable tourism practices for the future. Photo by word_virus, Wikimedia commons.