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 booking and pricing 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. Those staying in accommodation will not need to book, as there is already a nightly tourist tax in Venice charged by accommodation providers.
Who is exempt
Also exempt from the fee will be people with disabilities, children aged less than six, and those visiting for sporting and some cultural events or for health reasons.
If you have relatives living in the lagoon city, you will also be exempt.
Cruise visitors and enforcement
Cruise ship guests will have to pay the fee; 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.
Where the fee applies
It isn’t only the centre of Venice that is covered: the fee will apply to popular islands including Murano, Burano, the Lido di Venezia, Pellestrina, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, Mazzorbo, Mazzorbetto, Vignole, Sant Andrea, La Certosa, San Servolo, San Clemente and Poveglia. There will be no sneaking in via other hotspots.
Why Venice is introducing the charge
2019 saw Venice record 30 million visitors; with many of these being day-trippers, the problems with overcrowding and the costs of catering to tourists are overwhelming in a city of only 50,000 residents. Knowing in advance how many tourists to expect on a given day will allow the city authorities to plan for services.
What might come next?
Venice certainly won’t be the only city to have such a scheme — where do you think will be next?
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