Venice to charge entry fee as Carnival crowds surge
Venice is currently experiencing an influx of tourists during the carnival. The streets and bridges are crowded, and many visitors find themselves caught in traffic while trying to reach events such as the boat parade on the Grand Canal.
Venetian authorities plan to introduce an entrance fee to curb the influx of tourists. From mid-April to the end of July, on Fridays, weekends, and holidays, visitors must pay €5 if they book their visit in advance or €10 for a last-minute entry ticket.
Crowds in Venice before introducing fees
Not everyone will be required to pay to enter the city. Exemptions from the tickets include children under 14, students, people working in the city, those visiting family, and tourists staying in hotels in Venice.
The fee aims to help manage tourism and reduce the influx of so-called "day-trippers."
Videos shared on social media show what the streets of Venice have looked like recently. "I experienced this today... never again," commented one TikTok user, as quoted by the New York Post website. Others mention that the carnival feels like a "fight for survival."
Not only Venice faces issues with tourists
It's not only Venice that's struggling with an excess of tourists. In Malaga, Spain, a ban on opening new tourist rental properties in 43 districts has been implemented, and Barcelona plans to remove 10,000 short-term rental apartments from the market.
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