Venice is set to take measures to manage the overwhelming influx of tourists to its iconic canals
by introducing a €5 (US$5.36) admission fee for day trippers next year.
The city council announced this initiative on 5 September 2023.
The fee will be implemented on a trial basis for 30 days in 2024,
with a focus on peak tourist periods during spring bank holidays and
summer weekends. All visitors aged 14 and above will be required to pay
the fee. This fee will solely apply to day-trippers and will not affect
tourists staying overnight.
Simone Venturini, Venice's tourism councillor, explained that the
goal is to strike a "new balance between the rights of those who live,
study, or work in Venice and those who visit the city." He emphasised
that the fee is not intended to generate revenue but rather to cover the
administrative costs of the program.
The specific dates and operational details of the plan will be finalised soon following the expected council approval.
Originally proposed in 2019, the plan was postponed due to the
Covid-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced tourist numbers. Now,
with tourists returning in large numbers, the need to address
overtourism in Venice has become urgent.
Venice has struggled with overtourism for years,
with visitors often outnumbering the city's approximately 50,000
residents, leading to congestion in its narrow streets and alleys.
In July, UNESCO recommended that Venice and its lagoon be placed on
the World Heritage in Danger list, citing Italy's inadequate efforts to
protect the city from the effects of climate change and mass tourism.