Day-trippers to Venice will soon have to pay a 5 euro fee to enter the city’s historic center starting this month. Those who fail to pay the fee may face fines starting at 10 times the entrance fee. The pilot program aims to manage overtourism and gather more precise visitor numbers to help better regulate tourism in the city. Officials have trained personnel to verify payment of the fee or issue exemptions for various reasons, including work, school, and medical care access.
Venice has been struggling with overtourism for years, with estimates of up to 30 million visitors per year before the pandemic. The pilot project also hopes to encourage longer visits, reduce crowds on peak days, and improve the quality of life for residents. Visitors arriving at the main train and bus stations will be reminded of the new requirement by stewards and provided assistance if needed. Payment points will be available for those without smartphones, and fines will be imposed on anyone found without the required documentation.
The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, emphasized the importance of the controls to ensure compliance with the fee. Fines for those without the required documentation will range from 50 to 300 euros, in addition to the maximum entrance fee of 10 euros. The program will be tested on 29 days, starting on April 25 through mid-July, including most weekends. Visitors staying in Venice are exempt from the fee, as are residents of the Veneto region, people born in Venice, and anyone in need of medical care, school access, or work purposes.
An advertising campaign is being launched to inform visitors of the new obligation, with the mayor speaking in various languages aided by artificial intelligence. The pandemic delayed the implementation of the day-tripper fee, which had been cited as a key element in UNESCO’s decision not to include Venice on the list of endangered world heritage sites last September. The city aims to address the impact of overtourism, which has led to an imbalance between the number of tourists and residents, pushing locals to the mainland and straining the city’s infrastructure.
Venice’s plan to introduce a day-tripper fee has garnered interest from other cities around the world, seeking details on how to manage overtourism. The program aims to balance tourism with the needs of residents, reduce overcrowding in peak times, and enhance the overall visitor experience. The city hopes to create a more sustainable tourism model that benefits both tourists and residents, ensuring the long-term preservation of Venice’s unique heritage and beauty.
