The Venice of today bears little resemblance to its historical past, and it grapples with the effects of overtourism, as throngs of visitors damage its delicate ecological and cultural legacy. And now, UNESCO has suggested that Venice be included in its list of endangered heritage sites.
According to a statement from UNESCO, excessive development, mass tourism, and climate change are all causing “irreversible” harm to this metropolis.
The Mass Tourism Crisis
Venice, known for its scenic canals, architecture, and romantic atmosphere, has been and continues to be a tourist attraction, putting an enormous strain on its infrastructure. Environmentalists and local people are both concerned about the structural harm that millions of tourists are causing to Venice’s small passageways, canals, and structures.
Furthermore, earlier in 2023, several of the city’s smaller canals had run dry, leaving gondolas beached alongside the highways. In 2019, the city faced flood risks, while Italy declared a drought year in 2022, leaving districts near the Po River without water.
UNESCO made a similar request in 2021, but Venice made some concerted attempts to prevent huge cruise ships from sailing into the city. UNESCO has proposed that Venice be added to the list of World Heritage in Danger ahead of a meeting of the agency’s World Heritage Committee in Riyadh in September.
According to UNESCO, the effects of ongoing human-caused degradation, such as development that doesn’t stop, the effects of climate change, and mass tourism, pose a threat to the property’s exceptional worldwide significance. Has Venice taken sufficient steps to assure its survival by 2023?
Venice’s Heritage Preservation for Future Generations
Venice is not alone in battling the issues of over-tourism; the UNESCO list of endangered heritage sites includes 55 sites from around the world. However, Venice is a devastating example of what may happen when a beautiful area is overrun with tourists. A coordinated effort is essential to avert the looming crisis and ensure that future generations can continue to marvel at the city’s splendor.
Also, Read UNESCO sites to see in India
The inclusion of Venice on UNESCO’s endangered list will raise awareness of the city’s condition and draw international attention to it. It could also spur greater investment in sustainable tourism practices, conservation measures, and infrastructure improvements aimed at conserving the city’s cultural riches and lessening the impact of mass tourists.
The 55 sites that the World Heritage Committee has chosen to list as being at risk of destruction following Article 11(4) of the Convention.
Afghanistan
- Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (2003)
- Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam(2002)
Austria
- Historic Centre of Vienna (2017)
Bolivia (Plurinational State)
- City of Potosí (2014)
Central African Republic
- Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (1997)
Côte d’Ivoire
- Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (1992) *
Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Garamba National Park (1996)
- Kahuzi-Biega National Park (1997)
- Okapi Wildlife Reserve (1997)
- Virunga National Park (1994)
Egypt
- Abu Mena (2001)
Guinea
- Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (1992) *
Honduras
- Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (2011)
Indonesia
- Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (2011)
Iraq
- Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat) (2003)
- Hatra (2015)
- Samarra Archaeological City (2007)
Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan)
- Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (1982)
Kenya
- Lake Turkana National Parks (2018)
Lebanon
- Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (2023)
Libya
- Archaeological Site of Cyrene (2016)
- Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (2016)
- Archaeological Site of Sabratha (2016)
- Old Town of Ghadamès (2016)
- Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (2016)
Madagascar
- Rainforests of the Atsinanana (2010)
Mali
- Old Towns of Djenné (2016)
- Timbuktu (2012)
- Tomb of Askia (2012)
Mexico
- Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (2019)
Micronesia (Federated States of)
- Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (2016)
Niger
- Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (1992)
Palestine
- Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (2017)
- Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (2014)
Panama
- Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (2012)
Peru
- Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (1986)
Romania
- Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (2021)
Senegal
- Niokolo-Koba National Park (2007)
Serbia
- Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (2006)
Solomon Islands
- East Rennell (2013)
Syrian Arab Republic
- Ancient City of Aleppo (2013)
- Ancient City of Bosra (2013)
- Ancient City of Damascus (2013)
- Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (2013)
- Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2013)
- Site of Palmyra (2013)
Uganda
- Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (2010)
Ukraine
- The Historic Centre of Odesa (2023)
United Republic of Tanzania
- Selous Game Reserve (2014)
United States of America
- Everglades National Park (2010)
Uzbekistan
- Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (2016)
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
- Coro and its Port (2005)
Yemen
- Historic Town of Zabid (2000)
- Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib(2023)
- Old City of Sana’a (2015)
- Old Walled City of Shibam (2015)
