Venice Council Votes to Tame Overtourism with 5-Euro Entry Fee
Venice has officially greenlit a 5-euro entry fee, with online booking, to manage tourist crowds. The council approved the regulation, set to debut experimentally in spring 2024, targeting peak visitor days.
Despite vocal dissent in a five-hour session, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro asserts it’s a move in the right direction for the city struggling with overtourism.
The newly passed regulation was initially conceived in 2019, drawing inspiration from “landing taxes” enforced on some smaller Italian islands. The test run is slated for April or May 2024, focusing on extended spring weekends and the summer’s high-traffic weekends.
Daily commuters like workers, students, and professionals who need to cross Ponte della Libertà will not be charged. Likewise, residents of Veneto who don’t live in Venice will be exempt from payment but will still need to book online.
The municipality assures that the booking process will be streamlined and digital. A soon-to-be-launched portal will facilitate bookings and payments for applicable categories. Upon registration, visitors will receive a QR code, serving as their entry pass, subject to verification.
Failure to produce the QR code could result in hefty fines starting at 50 euros. The overarching aim is to curb the surge of tourists, particularly on notorious days like August 15 and New Year’s Eve, when the city is already swamped.
