after many years debateVenice will start charging day visitors five euros to visit its fragile historic center during peak hours on Thursday, making it the first city in the world to take such measures to combat overtourism.
Critics question whether the nominal fee will deter people from traveling to one of the world’s most coveted destinations. But officials hope it might encourage some people to reconsider their plans and decide to come during the week or during the off-season. This could reportedly help mitigate the impact of an influx of around 20 million tourists last year on the city’s struggling residents, which number fewer than 50,000 residents. City statistics. City officials said about half of the visitors only visit on that day. This fee is waived for overnight guests.
City officials say the spirit of the initiative is to make people aware of Venice’s uniqueness and fragility. Overtourism is creating an economy based entirely on tourism that threatens to push dwindling residents out of cities, said Nicola Camatti, professor of economics at the University of Venice Ca Foscari and a tourism expert. Destroy the city.
When will Venice start charging?
The fee comes into effect on Thursday (an Italian holiday). In 2024, city officials picked 29 peak days on which single-day visitors to Venice would have to pay between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. These days last until mid-July and mostly fall on national holidays and weekends.this Paid website Provide a list of dates.
Who has to pay?
While nearly everyone visiting the city must register to receive a QR code, not all visitors must pay the fee. Guests staying overnight in registered accommodation such as hotels or Airbnbs are exempt from the tax because they already pay the daily tourist tax, as are people studying or working in Venice and people visiting family.still got more exemption as well as.
Venetian residents, persons born in Venice and minors under 14 years of age do not need to register. But they must have documents proving their identity.
There could be different fees next year on a sliding scale, depending on how many people city officials expect to have on a given day. City officials said the charges could be as high as 10 euros per day.
How will the system work?
Before coming to Venice during peak hours, visitors should use website Register and get the QR code.
The code will be scanned wherever visitors enter, such as train stations, city parking lots, airports and the vast waterfront where boats dock along the San Marco Basin. The access points will have one line for tourists and another for residents and what officials say are city users who enter Venice for reasons other than sightseeing.
Officials said that, at least for now, those who have not registered in advance can do so at some access points or by mobile phone. Assistants will be available.
Michele Zuin, the city councilor in charge of the city’s budget, said controls would initially be “very loose.”
Rome Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Rome this month that the fees were not intended to make money from tourists. “The operating costs are higher than our costs,” he said.
Why does Venice do this?
City officials hope to alleviate some of the pressure tourists put on the city by encouraging visitors to visit on less busy days. They also say that by knowing in advance how many visitors are expected, the city can better deploy services.
“We want to better manage visitor numbers and curb mass tourism,” which makes it difficult for residents and tourists to “live in the city,” Zuin said this month.
To track tourist traffic, cities Already monitored They use cell phone location data and surveillance cameras, which some critics liken to a system big brother.
Venice has also come under scrutiny from the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO, whose experts fear not enough is being done to protect the city. Last year, Venice was at risk of being placed on the World Heritage in Danger list following a review by UNESCO experts. Listed mass tourismand climate change and development as major threats to its future. It urged city hall to take steps to mitigate the damage.
City Council Approval access fee Just days before UNESCO votes on its status, Venice not included in ‘danger’ list. But UNESCO officials said in a statement that “further progress is still needed” to protect Venice.
Critics of admission fees point out that officials do not limit the number of visitors and that nominal fees are hardly a deterrent.As recently as Friday, city officials said some 80,000 visitors packed the city’s narrow Galleries and 2024 Gardens Venice Biennale,is still The world’s leading place to discover new art.
How else does Venice restrict tourists?
Venice has taken other steps in hopes of reducing what city officials call “mordi e fuggi” (or “eat and escape”) tourism, referring to those seeking the city’s most popular attraction, the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco – as well as bringing a packed lunch and taking out the rubbish, contributing very little to the local economy.
After years of heated debate and protests by Venetians, the city No cruise ships canals from its interior 2021However, tourism expert Mr Kamati said the ban on boats had not reduced the number of day trippers.
This year, the city limited tour groups to 25 people per group and banned the use of loudspeakers.
