Cruise ships to be banned in Venice?

PA

Calls are growing for cruise ships to be banned from passing through Venice due to the tourist hotspot's precarious foundations.

According to Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper, local officials will be discussing the issue this week.

According to the Telegraph, Venice mayor Giorgio Orsoni told the newspaper: "The problem of these juggernauts of the sea needs to be confronted."

He believes that cruise ships sailing out of Venice could instead go from Porto Marghera, located on the mainland not far from Venice, an idea that has the backing of Italy's new environment minister.

Many locals believe that cruise ships are damaging to the city's foundations, and the paper reported that the number of cruise ships visiting Venice tripled between 2000 and 2007.

The news comes as Venice introduces a tourist tax to raise money to help save the 'sinking' city.

Visitors are now charged anything up to €5 a night per person, depending on the hotel star rating, in a bid that its deputy mayor says will 'save this unique city, which is precious and fragile'.

%VIRTUAL-Gallery-129665%


Sign up to our weekly newsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a fan on Facebook