A committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided not to include the city of Venice on its list of World Heritage sites at risk, ignoring recommendations from experts to avoid an embarrassing ruling for the Italian government. The organization stated in a statement during the committee meeting in Riyadh, "The World Heritage Committee... made the decision not to include Venice and its lagoon in the List of World Heritage in Danger."
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano remarked that if Venice had been added to the list, it would have been an "unwarranted step" not based on objective facts, adding, "Venice is not in danger." Flooding and mass tourism have long threatened the famous city known for its canals and cultural landmarks. Sangiuliano noted that UNESCO positively assessed Italy’s attempts to address these issues through a flood prevention system and the recent approval of an entrance fee for tourists, set to be implemented next year.
However, UNESCO stated that further efforts are needed to protect the city. It added, "The committee again expressed concern over important issues that still need to be addressed to preserve the site, including mass tourism, development projects, and climate change."
