Why Is Venice Not On The List Of Endangered World Heritage Sites?

28.09.2023 - 23:59 / forbes.com

For years now, there have been attempts to place the city of Venice on UNESCO’s list of endangered World Heritage sites. On one hand, it would bring more attention to the fact that climate change and mass tourism continue to threaten the city. On the other, it could deter travelers, something local government fears since Venice’s economy depends almost exclusively on tourism. Most recently, even though a UNESCO world heritage advisory body recommended Venice be placed on that list, a committee of representatives from 21 countries voted against it.

To get a sense of residents’ reactions, we spoke with Melissa Conn, Director of the Venice office for Save Venice, an American non-profit organization based in New York City, founded in 1971 and dedicated to the preservation of the city’s art and architecture.

Q: You’ve lived in Venice since the late eighties. How has the city changed?

A: Well, first there is the sense that it’s become much easier to travel and that travel is a priority for many. But what’s happening here is also happening all over the world. In Venice, things used to be rather quiet between November and April except for the March school trips that everyone decried. Today we don’t even notice those because of all the tourists. We cannot say we have a low season anymore.

Another evolution we’ve witnessed is that the whole city of Venice now seems to be catering to tourists. Shop owners offer tourist items and residents often offer their homes for short-term rentals, even moving to the mainland themselves. There are now more beds for tourists than for residents.

Q: What has been done to alleviate the pressure of mass tourism?

A: A new ordinance was just passed to tax the day-trippers five euros to come into town, but the exact way this will be done is still being worked out. One of the complications is that there are a lot of commuters, people who live on the mainland but work in Venice. It’s unclear how this ordinance will take effect. There’s talk about an honor system where people will need to register on their phones.

Q: What about climate change?

A: Water in Venice is under control. Massive flood gates were completed in December 2021 where the lagoon and the sea meet, and last November, they saved us from what could have been a real disaster. That said, the city has seen an enormous increase in torrential rainstorms, and we have to hope the gates will hold in the long run. There’s also the fact that we are in a seismic area. One positive change has been the banning of the big ships who can no longer come along Piazza San Marco. They dock on the mainland now, but they no longer risk causing damage to the Square or the Dogana. And Venice is still a livable city where children go to school,