Locals block cruise ships in Venice

Fearing that the influx of tourists would negatively impact local life, Italians took to the streets in small boats, blowing trumpets and throwing fireworks to stop the cruise ships.

Italians on small boats blew trumpets and threw fireworks to block the passage of tourist boats, the Telegraph reported. Protesters also held up signs reading: "No big ships allowed" as a tourist boat was carrying passengers up the Giudecca Canal, preparing to dock.

The protest stemmed from local residents' concerns about environmental damage affecting culture and life here due to the increasing number of cruise ships coming to Venice.

This is not the first time Venetians have blocked cruise ships from docking. In 2013, people donned wetsuits and swam in the world-famous Giudecca Canal to stop cruise ships. Photo: Alamy.

Every year, about 22 million tourists visit Venice, often causing disruption to local life, including traffic jams. Tourists have also been criticized for unsightly behavior, such as jostling to get on speedboats while carrying bulky backpacks and walking around in bikinis or shorts. In August, a group of protesters plastered the city's walls with the words: "Tourists, go away, you're ruining this city."

However, the tourism companies said that the damage to their boats was insignificant compared to the benefits it brought to 5,000 households here.

In 2013, Italy passed a law that banned ships over 96,000 tonnes from using the Giudecca Canal. The number of smaller ships allowed to use the canal was also limited to five per day. However, this law was lifted at the end of 2015.

According to VNE