UNESCO on Wednesday hailed the Italian government's decision Tuesday to ban cruise ships from the Venice lagoon starting August 1. "Italy's decision to ban the access of large cruise ships to the Venice Lagoon as of 1 August 2021 is a very good news and an important step that significantly contributes to the safeguarding of this unique heritage site. #Venice," tweeted UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay.

The nearby industrial port of Marghera is being readied as an alternative docking point and the government will compensate firms and workers hit by the ban. UNESCO said on June 21 that Venice's survival would be even more in peril if the lagoon city didn't issue a permanent ban on cruise ships docking there.