In a move to combat the challenges of mass tourism, Venice will begin charging day-trippers an entry fee this week. This marks a global first for the historic city, which has long struggled with the influx of millions of visitors annually.
Starting this Thursday, April 25, a public holiday in Italy, day visitors will need to buy a five-euro ($5.30) ticket to enter the city. Inspectors will be stationed at key points throughout the UNESCO World Heritage Site to conduct random checks.
Venice, one of the most visited destinations, attracts far more tourists than residents. With only 50,000 permanent inhabitants, the city saw a staggering 3.2 million overnight visitors in 2022 alone. Tens of thousands more, often cruise ship passengers, flood the narrow streets daily, overwhelming the delicate ecosystem and historical sites.
The new ticketing system aims to encourage day-trippers to visit during less crowded periods, ultimately thinning out the worst of the crowds. Initially, the fee will only apply on 29 busy days throughout 2024, primarily weekends between May and July.
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Venice isn’t alone. Tourist destinations worldwide grapple with surging visitor numbers. In Spain, the second-most visited country after France, protests erupted over the weekend demanding visitor caps in the Canary Islands.
Venice’s Mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, describes the scheme as “an experiment, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.” The goal, he said, is to “make Venice more liveable” for residents.
In 1987, UNESCO declared Venice and its lagoon a World Heritage Site, praising it as an “extraordinary architectural masterpiece.” However, last year, the organization threatened to add Venice to its list of heritage in danger due to the detrimental effects of mass tourism and rising water levels linked to climate change.
Venice managed to prevent this outcome only after local authorities agreed to introduce the new ticketing system.
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The idea of an entry fee had been a subject of debate for years, but concerns about denting tourism revenue and restricting freedom of movement repeatedly stalled its implementation. During a heated discussion last September, opposition council members criticized the plan as a rushed measure lacking effectiveness.
This initiative comes after Venice banned large cruise ships in 2021, diverting them to a distant port. Additionally, an overnight visitor tax is already in place.
Venice’s mayor has assured the public that the system will be implemented with a “light touch” and “without queues,” dispelling fears of barriers or turnstiles being erected throughout the city. Instead, inspectors will be stationed near key entry points, like the Santa Lucia train station, conducting random checks.
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Tourists caught without a ticket will be offered the opportunity to purchase one on the spot, with the help of local operators. However, non-compliance could result in fines ranging from 50 to 300 euros.
The “Venice Access Fee” targets day tourists entering the historic center between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Exemptions include hotel guests, minors under 14, and individuals with disabilities. Currently, there’s no limit on the number of daily tickets available, which are downloaded in the form of QR codes from a dedicated website (https://cda.ve.it/en/).
