'David vs Goliath' - Venice ban may not end cruise ship battle

View of St. Mark's Square from above as Venice gears up for a ban on cruise liners that becomes effective on August 1, moving to end years of hesitation and putting the demands of residents and culture bodies above those of the tourist industry, in Venice, Italy, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

VENICE (Reuters) - When the first cruise ship since the start of the pandemic sailed through the Venice lagoon last month, hundreds of people rallied on land and small boats in protest.

A few weeks later, the government seemed to listen, announcing that to defend Venice's ecosystem and heritage, cruise liners would be banned from the lagoon from Aug. 1. The move ended years of political hesitation, apparently putting the demands of residents and culture bodies above those of port workers and the tourist industry.