City of Venice seeks to tackle cruise tourism amid risks

Issues related to yachts being banned from entering the city of Venice are controversial in recent times.
On March 31, the Italian government issued a decree banning cruise ships and large commercial ships from visiting the Venice lagoon and calling for a solution to promote a tender program to build a new port outside the lagoon.

However, just 15 days later, MSC Cruises announced that the MSC Orchestra will sail through the Giudecca Canal, St Mark’s Square and dock in the city center on June 5. Illustration. Source: CNN The ban on cruise ships from central Venice has been repeated over the years. To deal with this problem, the yachts will approach the tourist port near the city centre, pass by St Mark’s Square and then continue along the Giudecca Canal – the area that separates central Venice from the island canal. Giudecca. This wide canal is now the main traffic route for ferries and water taxis. Cruise ships head up the 4km (2.5 mi) canal before turning right to dock at Marittima port west of central Venice. Some argue that the appearance of many yachts is worsening the city’s unique landscape, altering the ecosystem and harming the famous city. The incident that took place in June 2019 is an example. At that time, the MSC Opera cruise ship accidentally crashed into a dock in Venice, causing tourists to flee in chaos. Meanwhile, some other comments said that the cruise industry is bringing 42,000 jobs related to ships and promoting tourism economic development for Italy. “Cruises are extremely important. The Port of Venice is generating income for our city and is seen as a quality income. Travelers who choose to cruise will be willing to spend more and stay in the city. stay in the city longer,” said Mr. Adrea Tomaello – representative of the city of Venice. Venice is Italy’s second-largest port. Visitors here will stay in the city before or after the tour. “Cruise tourism accounts for 3.2% of Italy’s gross domestic product. This sector supports jobs for many city dwellers,” emphasized Mr. Adrea Tomaello. However, in the near future, the city of Venice has not yet taken any measures to overcome the above situation. “The problem exists, that is, there is no solution in the context of Venice falling into a state of serious impact,” said environmental scientist Jane da Mosto.