Giglio Island, , Italy

Jun 21, 2012 1:18 AM

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Vandeville Eric

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Vacationists are seen in front of the wreckage of capsized cruise liner Costa Concordia at Giglio Island, Italy on June 20, 2012.Life in the Island of Giglio is becoming normal and busy having a number of tourist from all over the world after the disaster of the cruise ship Costa Concordia. The 290-metre-long (951 feet) cruise liner partly sank on January 12, 2012 with 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew members on board after hitting a reef off the Italian coast. The nightmare killed thirty two tourists. Interestingly, the tiny vacation island off the Tuscany coast that was little known outside the country is now being considered as one of the most visited tourist destinations in Italy because of the Concordia disaster. Giglio , 1000 permanent residents and 10,000 summer visitors, has to live with the boat this summer . Here people call it 'the sleeping elephant'. Fortunately all the oil has been safely removed from the Concordia, and there is no trace of pollution in the crystal-clear sea. The refloat and removal of the ship is set to cost at least 0 million and last about a year. The ship's owner has said guarantees for the local tourist industry and protection of the environment during the salvage operation will be key priorities. Photo by Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM