Venice has announced its decision to extend the tourist entry fee until 2025, reacting to the growing pressures of overtourism that have affected the city. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro revealed plans to charge tourists €5 if they book ahead and €10 otherwise to visit on certain days from April to July. This marks a significant expansion from a successful test period in the previous year, where the fee was collected on 29 days.
Starting on April 18, the fee will be applicable every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays, totaling 54 days in the specified period. Visitors aged 14 and older must pay the fee via a mobile app, generating a QR code for inspection in common areas like train stations. The initiative exempts those with local accommodations, residents of the Veneto region, and students at local universities.
City councillor Simone Venturini highlighted Venice's proactive stance against overtourism, marking the city as a pioneer among global tourist destinations. Initial reports indicated that within the first week of the program last year, Venice's authorities achieved their anticipated financial targets for three months, raising approximately €2.4 million by mid-July despite critiques of the system.
Opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini dismissed the entry fee system, labeling it a failure for not achieving significant diffusions in tourist crowds. In July, he challenged the rationale behind increasing fees, suggesting it would only distill Venice into a mere display for visitors.
The entry fee comes as UNESCO has expressed concerns for Venice's status as a protected world heritage site, citing the detrimental dual impact of climate change and mass tourism. The city has already banned large cruise ships from its historic center due to environmental and structural concerns, including regular flooding. Critics argue that unchecked tourism threatens the city’s cultural and physical fabric, raising questions about the sustainability of tourism in Venitian heritage.
Starting on April 18, the fee will be applicable every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays, totaling 54 days in the specified period. Visitors aged 14 and older must pay the fee via a mobile app, generating a QR code for inspection in common areas like train stations. The initiative exempts those with local accommodations, residents of the Veneto region, and students at local universities.
City councillor Simone Venturini highlighted Venice's proactive stance against overtourism, marking the city as a pioneer among global tourist destinations. Initial reports indicated that within the first week of the program last year, Venice's authorities achieved their anticipated financial targets for three months, raising approximately €2.4 million by mid-July despite critiques of the system.
Opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini dismissed the entry fee system, labeling it a failure for not achieving significant diffusions in tourist crowds. In July, he challenged the rationale behind increasing fees, suggesting it would only distill Venice into a mere display for visitors.
The entry fee comes as UNESCO has expressed concerns for Venice's status as a protected world heritage site, citing the detrimental dual impact of climate change and mass tourism. The city has already banned large cruise ships from its historic center due to environmental and structural concerns, including regular flooding. Critics argue that unchecked tourism threatens the city’s cultural and physical fabric, raising questions about the sustainability of tourism in Venitian heritage.
