Venice officials have decided to continue with their pioneering tourist entry fee program, expanding it to 54 days in 2025 after a successful trial run this year. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stated that the experiment was successful, leading to the decision to maintain the period but increase the number of days the fee will be in effect. Day-trippers will be required to pay a €5 fee to explore Venice on these selected days, which is roughly double the number of days the charge was in effect in the previous year. These days will be spread out between mid-April and the end of July.
Those who wish to visit Venice on the designated fee days will still have to pay €5 through the government’s online platform. However, a new rule has been implemented, requiring those who book within three days of arrival to pay a higher fee of €10. Municipal workers will be conducting random checks at various access points, such as rail stations and bus terminals, and will ask visitors to show a QR code that they receive when paying the fee online. Residents, commuters, and overnight tourists will be exempt from the fee.
The entry fee system was piloted this year to manage tourist flows and possibly deter overcrowding during peak periods. Venice’s deputy mayor of tourism, Simone Venturini, explained that the fee primarily targets Italian day-trippers from surrounding regions, with the intention of using the funds to support local maintenance and restoration efforts. The government collected €2.4 million in revenue from the fees, with over 485,000 day-trippers visiting Venice on the days with the fee. Despite this, the volume of day-trippers did not exceed 2023 levels on these days, showing that the fee may have successfully managed visitor numbers.
Venice has been facing issues related to overtourism, with over 13 million tourists visiting the city and its surrounding region in 2023. To address this, the city has implemented various measures, such as banning group tours of more than 25 people and prohibiting guides from using loudspeakers to reduce noise pollution and pedestrian congestion. These efforts are aimed at improving the quality of life for residents and preserving the local culture and infrastructure. Venice’s entry fee system and other measures represent one of the most aggressive attempts by a major tourist destination to manage visitor flows while maintaining the authenticity of the city.
Overall, Venice’s decision to expand its tourist entry fee program to 54 days in 2025 is a response to the success of the trial run conducted this year. The fee targets day-trippers, particularly Italian visitors from surrounding regions, and aims to generate revenue to support local maintenance and restoration efforts. With measures in place to manage tourist flows and address issues of overtourism, Venice is taking proactive steps to preserve the city’s unique culture and improve the quality of life for residents. These efforts showcase Venice’s commitment to sustainable tourism and responsible management of visitor numbers, setting an example for other popular tourist destinations facing similar challenges.
