Venice plans to increase tourist fee next year

AN INCREASED FEE TO ENTER VENICE

Venice’s authorities are considering increasing the €5 (+/- R100) fee for day-trippers in the next year. The tourist fee, which came into effect this past April on a trial basis, lasted 29 days and came to an end on Sunday, 14 July.

According to Schengen.News, this will now be followed by a consultation period to determine its future, as reports suggest the experimental payment system had a limited impact on reducing crowds in this city.

Despite the measures helping the city to reduce the number of international visitors, the large numbers of tourists persisted and additional measures may be taken going forward, authorities say.

WHO HAD TO PAY?

As per the rules around the entry fee, only daytrippers aged 14 and above who wish to enter the city were subject to the €5 fee.

Locals, commuters and those with second homes in the city who have paid local property tax, visitors who are staying overnight in the municipality and those participating in sports events, were all excluded from the entry fee.

Response to mass tourism

Last month, authorities in Venice introduced additional measures in a bid to deal with mass tourism in the city.

Some of the measures introduced included banning loudspeakers and limiting the size of tour groups to 25. These changes in tourism rules came after experts from UNESCO warned that Venice could be added to the list of world heritage sites in danger.

According to reports, for a period from 25 April until 5 May, an average of 75 000 visitors were recorded in Venice.