It seems every day the past two weeks has brought bad news for travel and tourism – not to mention restaurants and hospitality industry. So, when news that the coronavirus pandemic might be having a positive effect started to circulate, well, we couldn’t help but share.

It turns out that the significant reductions to global travel that the COVID-19 virus has caused aren’t all bad. As Italy entered its second week of lockdown and the normally busy tourist destination of Venice took a breather from non-stop boats, people and pollution, the residents started to notice something that they hadn’t been seen in years: crystal clear, free-flowing waters in the Venice canals. Some even claim to have spotted dolphins and swans.

The first hints that the lockdown was having a positive effect on Venice came from Twitter on March 14.

since there’s no boat’s traffic in venice’s canals, white swans came back 😭 this is precious pic.twitter.com/xJOFKL8Dal

— …?? ㅠ_ㅠ (@fiIterjm) March 13, 2020

Here’s an unexpected side effect of the pandemic – the water’s flowing through the canals of Venice is clear for the first time in forever. The fish are visible, the swans returned. pic.twitter.com/2egMGhJs7f

— Kaveri 🇮🇳 (@ikaveri) March 16, 2020

These rumours were later confirmed by video footage from Reuters. 

Several photographers have now captured photographs of the clear waters in Venice. 

Isn’t it nice to think that eventually, when we all get a chance to, once again, start ticking items off our travel bucket lists, that maybe the places we visit will be even more beautiful, now that they’ve had a bit of a breather?