Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Venice to increase tourism charges as it cracks down on overcrowding


Engaged in a constant battle against tourism overcrowding, Venice will increase charges to day trip visitors in 2025.

The move follows a ‘successful’ trial this past summer, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The Italian city will nearly double the number of "peak tourism" days it charges tourists an entrance fee, the city’s mayor said.

The €5 fee is payable to enter the city as a day tripper on busy days between April and July. The fee is payable in advance but rises to €10 if booked fewer than four days before a visit.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the measure aims to spread out tourist visits to quieter off-season days "to give Venice the respect it deserves".

The fee was payable on 29 days in 2024, which were mostly weekends and public holidays. There will be 54 chargeable days from April 18 to July 27 in 2025:  every Friday through Sunday and every public holiday.

All day trip visitors over 14 years old must pay the fee.

The fee can be paid online and a QR code confirmation is generated which may be checked by inspectors within the city.

Travellers staying overnight with hotel or other accommodation bookings are exempt.

“Venice has gone from being the city most exposed to over-tourism, to being the city that is reacting to this phenomenon the earliest and most proactively,” said city councillor Simone Venturini.

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