Venice has become the first city worldwide to enforce an entry fee for tourists to combat the effects of overcrowding on its rich historical sites and to enhance the quality of life for its residents. This initiative to be effective from April 25 to July 14.
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During the trial phase day-trippers will be required to pay a nominal fee of 5 euros ($5.35) to access Venice on 29 peak days, weekends, within the specified period.
The initiative primarily targets tackling the congestion experienced during peak tourist seasons, thereby preserving the city’s charm and cultural integrity.
Visitors staying overnight in the city’s accommodations are exempt from the fee, provided they obtain official exemptions. Residents, workers, students, and children under 14 are also excluded from the charge.
To streamline the payment process tourists planning day visits during the designated dates can prepay the entry fee online.
This involves selecting the visit date, specifying the number of visitors, and completing the payment within a 10-minute window.
A confirmation document containing a QR code is issued which can be presented either in printed form or via smartphone upon entry.
Failure to comply with the payment requirements may result in fines ranging from $53.63 to $321.77 in addition to the entry fee. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro addressed the city’s humility in implementing this measure.
Simone Venturini, the local tourism councilor, highlighted the necessity of reducing the strain on the city caused by daily tourism peaks acknowledging the global interest in visiting Venice while advocating for a more sustainable approach to tourism management.
Venice’s decision to implement the entry fee was influenced in part by pressure from UNESCO which had previously threatened to include the city on its World Heritage in Danger list due to concerns about mass tourism.
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Venice often said an open-air museum has been inundated with approximately 30 million tourists annually, surpassing its resident population of fewer than 50,000.
This disproportionate ratio has strained the city’s infrastructure, environment, and cultural heritage. The city faced the threat of being listed as a World Heritage site in danger by UNESCO in 2023 due to concerns over the impact of mass tourism on its ecosystem.
The tourist entrance fee, set at 5 euros ($5.40), is currently undergoing a trial phase from April 25 to July 14. It applies to day-trippers visiting on 29 peak days, primarily weekends and public holidays, during this period.
The primary goal of the fee is to redistribute tourist flow across different times, thereby alleviating congestion during peak periods and preserving Venice’s cultural heritage.
Mayor Brugnaro addressed the importance of finding a balance between tourism and the well-being of residents.
Day-trippers must prepay the entry fee online selecting their visit date and completing payment within a 10-minute window. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from $53.63 to $321.77, in addition to the entry fee.
Overnight guests staying in Venice hotels are exempt from the fee but must obtain official exemption status. Children under 14 years old are also exempt.
Some residents and activists have expressed concerns regarding the collection and use of personal data through the fee payment system.
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