The Italian government has announced that large cruise ships will be banned from entering Venice's historic centre.

Key points: Venetian residents have long wanted a ban on cruise ships, arguing they damage the city

Venetian residents have long wanted a ban on cruise ships, arguing they damage the city Protests against the ships intensified after a ship collided with a dock in June, injuring five people

Protests against the ships intensified after a ship collided with a dock in June, injuring five people Residents have long been calling for a more sustainable tourism model

Ships weighing more than 1,000 tonnes will be rerouted away from certain waterways from September, a move that comes after a years-long campaign by residents.

The protests against cruise ships intensified after an accident in June in which a ship collided with a dock, injuring five people, including two Australians.

Angry Venetians carried banners reading "Ships out of the lagoon" and "No big ships" while others took to rowboats in the Venetian Lagoon.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 1 m A cruise ship collided with a dock on the Giudecca Canal, injuring five people.

Venice hosted 594 cruise ships in 2018, and critics say the currents created as the ships pass by are damaging the Renaissance buildings.

"They are destroying Venice, they are physically destroying Venice, physically destroying our lungs," activist Tommaso Cacciari told the ABC in March.

"It's kind of the most invasive, stupid tourism I have ever seen."

The residents intensified their protests after a cruise ship collided with a dock in June. ( AP: Luca Bruno )

The cruise ship ban comes amid a campaign by Venice residents for a more sustainable tourism model.

The city receives between 25 to 30 million visitors each year, 14 million of them staying for just one day.

The declining population of residents complain they are being priced out of affordable housing by Airbnb, while also being forced to pick up the tab for the visitors.