In a bid to tackle overtourism and preserve its cultural heritage, Venice is set to implement a groundbreaking measure: charging day-trippers for access to its historic heart.
As of April 25, 2024, visitors will need to fork out €5 (£4.25) to experience the charms of this iconic city during peak hours.
With approximately 30million tourists flooding its streets each year, Venice has been grappling with the strain of mass tourism for quite some time. According to reports, a staggering seven out of 10 tourists are day-trippers, exacerbating the challenges faced by the city.
In fact, even before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, concerns were raised by UNESCO about the city’s endangered World Heritage status.
“We are determined to protect the unique heritage of Venice while still welcoming tourists,” stated a city official. “This measure is not just about generating revenue but also about ensuring sustainable tourism that respects our city’s cultural integrity.”
The new fee, which will be enforced on 29 specific days throughout 2024, is part of Venice’s larger strategy to manage tourism flow effectively. Tourists staying overnight in Venice hotels will be exempt from the charge but will still need to register online and obtain a passcode to navigate through checkpoints.
The first day subject to the fee will coincide with Italy’s Liberation Day, marking a poignant moment in history. Subsequently, visitors during the following 10 days, up to and including May 5, will also be required to pay. Weekends stretching up to July 14 will similarly be subjected to the levy.
The move to implement a tourist tax comes in the wake of previous measures aimed at mitigating the impact of tourism on the city. In 2021, cruise ships were banned from docking in the historic center of Venice, following a plea from UNESCO to protect the city’s cultural heritage.
Despite these efforts, concerns persist about the long-term sustainability of Venice as a tourist destination. UNESCO continues to highlight issues such as overtourism and the need for a comprehensive management system to safeguard the city’s “Outstanding Universal Value”.
The proposed entry fee played a crucial role in the decision to spare Venice from the list. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stressed that the fee is not intended to generate additional revenue but is a ‘first-of-its-kind experiment’ to regulate tourist flows in one of the world’s most-visited destinations.
The primary goal is to incentivise visitors to choose less crowded periods, creating a more sustainable and liveable city.
Visitors can now reserve their day in Venice on a dedicated platform, paying €5 to receive a QR code checked at spot controls in various access points around the city.
