UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural agency, proposed that the historic Venice be added to endangered world heritage sites. According to the agency, the beloved Italian city faces the threat of “irreversible” harm stemming from excessive tourism, excessive urbanization, and the consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels.
Mass Tourism Harming The City
The agency said in a statement that the city was facing multiple threatening challenges including mass tourism and increased development. The report also mentioned that the increasing human intervention in the form of infrastructure and urbanization are threatening the very historic sight of the city. “The combined effects of human induced and natural changes are causing deterioration” and the Italian government has failed to do anything, the statement said.
Population Of Venice On Decline
Another important issue the report mentioned was the dwindling population of the city. Venessia.com, an Italian activist organization, revealed last year that the city’s population has declined to shocking 50,000 inhabitants due to mass tourism and development.
