Mass Tourism Continues to Threaten Venice and its Lagoon
Mass tourism can be a double-edged sword for historic sites. Although tourism often means jobs and economic development for local communities, improper visitor management can lead to sites being “loved to death.”
Last month, British artist, Banksy, crashed Venice Biennale with an installation that criticized the city’s cruise ship problem. Earlier today, a massive cruise ship carrying over 2,000 passengers crashed into a pier, injuring several people. Cruise ships of eager passengers along Venice’s Giudecca Canal continue to damage the city’s unique cultural sites and natural environment. Against the backdrop of local efforts to curtail the effect tourism has had on the city, today’s crash has reignited calls to ban large boats from Venice’s congested waterways.
There can be a better way. Well-managed tourism can help protect historic sites and provide much needed economic support for local businesses. That’s why we support communities with capacity-building programs and local initiatives, balancing site protection with modern visitor interests. Of course, travelers also have a role to play. They can reduce their impact by choosing less visited, yet equally outstanding, destinations.
The 1,800-year-old Maijishan Grottoes are great examples where we’re working closely with authorities to effectively manage the increasing number of tourists at a vulnerable historic site. Since becoming a World Heritage Site in 2014, visitation to Maijishan has grown rapidly. During the peak season — Golden Week and Chinese New Year — the grottoes receive approximately 13,000 visitors a day. At these once quiet grottoes, we are working closely with local authorities to develop visitor management strategies such as establishing new visitation routes away from the highest-trafficked areas.
As travelers, we should also take responsibility and reduce our impact by seeking out alternative, off-the-beaten path destinations, and planning trips out of peak season.
Learn more about Maijishan: https://globalheritagefund.org/what-we-do/projects-and-programs/maijishan-china/
Read more about Venice: https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/03/venice-cruise-boat-crash-revives-calls-to-ban-big-ships
