Venice to introduce tourist entry fee, marking a first in combatting overcrowding

Over the years, Venice has grappled with a significant influx of tourists. City residents frequently express their frustrations about large crowds and transportation difficulties. Prior to the pandemic, this renowned tourist hotspot entertained about 30 million visitors each year. To put this into perspective, the city's total permanent residents is less than 300,000.

The Venice authorities have opted to rein in the number of tourists who do not contribute financial income to the city. The initial step was to prohibit cruise ships from entering Giudecca Bay. This directive was heavily influenced by pressure from UNESCO. The association threatened to blacklist Venice.

Starting from 25 April, tourists will notice additional changes. As the so-called 'high season' kicks off, Venice will implement an entry fee applicable on 29 specific days of the year between 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM Greenwich Time. The first of these days will be 25 April, which is Italian Liberation Day. This ticketing system will also be applicable on subsequent days until 5 May and then on all weekends until the end of July.

In an interview with the "Corriere della Sera" newspaper portal, Mayor Brugnaro commented: "On 25 April, the world's attention will likely be focused on us because such an experiment has never been conducted before".

Tickets are available for online purchase. Each ticket costs £4 per person (equating to around $5.88). The fee will be levied only on individuals who have not booked accommodation in Venice. Luigi Brugnaro offers reassurance to city residents, stating they will have separate entrances and won't have to endure long queues alongside tourists who are only visiting for a day.