Does cruising to Venice have a future?
In January, Venice’s regional court of appeal overturned a ban on cruise ships. This ban had prevented all ships over 96,000 cross tonnes from sailing pass the iconic Guidecca Canal, and restricted the number of ships weighing over 40,000 tonnes allowed to pass to five a day.
Environmentalists and conservationists who originally supported the ban were disappointed to hear the news (UNESCO’s president of the Italian National Commission, Giovanni Puglisi, was reportedly appalled) but it seems, for the time being at least, that cruising to Venice is here to stay.
Roughly two million tourists visit Venice by cruise ship every year, entering and leaving the island via the increasingly congested Guidecca Canal, which is the main body of water that separates the island of Guidecca from Venice proper. And while the site of an enormous cruise liner turning into the sparkling waters of the ancient city is awe-inspiring, the risks are great. Venice was recently included in the World Monuments Fund’s biannual list of sites under threat, with environmentalists claiming the wake alone from these giant vessels is contributing to the erosion of the city’s foundations.
Many conservationists have also argued that cruise ships visiting the iconic city contribute little to the local economy as passengers generally return to the ship at the end of the day, taking income away from local restaurants, cafés and hotels set up to promote regional tourism.
Environmentalists have suggested an alternative route that would see cruise ships docked at a separate location and ferried into the famous city. But this move has been opposed by recently elected Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who has publicly stated that he is against such a plan. Mr Brugnaro is reportedly a staunch supporter of the cruising industry and its role in Venice.
Touching on why it included Venice in the list of sites under threat with places like Syria and Timbuktu, the WMF stated: “Venice is included… in the hope of inspiring a more penetrating analysis of the economic value of the large-scale cruise industry for the community, in relation to the negative impact that these outside vessels have on the city’s environment.”
So it seems, for the time being at least, major cruise ships are going to be able to visit Venice. But whether the risks outweigh the rewards will remain to be seen. Venice is a beautiful city and people on all sides of politics would agree that it would be a shame if something were to happen to it.
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