Thinking about visiting La Serenissima next year?
If you are, then from January 2023 you might have to pay to do so.
In an effort to combat the negative effects of over-tourism, the city authorities are introducing a fee for day-trippers to Venice.
The city will become the first in the world to do so.
How will it work?
Tickets must be pre-booked and the fee will vary depending on how busy it is, a typical off-season price will be €6 but it can drop as low as €3 and reach €10 on the busiest days.
Tickets will be limited so it will be important to book early, but those staying in accommodation will not need to book as there is already a nightly tourist tax in Venice that is charged by accommodation providers.
Also exempted from the fee will be people with disabilities, children aged less than six and those who are visiting for sporting and some cultural events or for health reasons.
Of course if you have some relatives living in the lagoon city then you will also be exempt.
Cruise ship guests will have to pay the fee as these ships have been banned from the lagoon since 2021.
The system is based on hundreds of CCTV cameras and scanners at turnstiles that will allow entry to the city and the areas covered by the scheme. This being Italy of course there will be fines – ranging from €50 to €300.
It isn’t just the centre of Venice that is covered either, the fee will apply to popular islands of Murano, Burano the Lido di Venezia, Pellestrina, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, Mazzorbo, Mazzorbetto, Vignole, Sant Andrea, La Certosa, San Servolo, San Clemente and Poveglia. So there will be no sneaking in to some of the other hotspots.
2019 saw Venice record 30 million visitors and with many of these being day-trippers the problems with overcrowding and the costs of catering to these tourists is overwhelming in a city of only 50,000. Knowing in advance how many tourists to expect on a certain day will allow the city authorities to plan for services.
Venice certainly won’t be the only city to have such a scheme – where do you think will be next?
