In 2022, the city of Venice announced that it was going to be launching a tourist tax. Its introduction has been postponed a couple of times, with the launch initially proposed for June 2022, and then January 2023. Now it looks like it’s finally happening, as day-trippers wanting to enter Venice from April 25 will have to pay for a ticket to do so.
How much is the Venice tourist tax per night?
The fee will apply to visitors who travel only for the day to the ‘old city’ (that’s the entirety of the lagoon region), but not to those who are staying overnight. It will cost €5 (£4.30, $5.40) per person, and the new system issues a QR code upon payment, to help streamline the experience for visitors.
Those travelling directly to the ‘minor islands’ like Burano and Murano won’t need to pay, and locals and commuters will also be exempt. People staying in the city for one night or more will also be excused from the charge, as will people with a second home in Venice. However, those exempt from the fee must still register their trip online.
The fee will be applied as part of a trial run until Sunday, May 5. It will then be enforced every weekend between 8.30am and 4pm (exluding June 1 and 2) until Sunday July 14.
It’s thought that the tax will simply be used to cover the cost of the booking system itself, rather than turning a profit. The idea is to try and discourage visitors on days when the city is likely to be at capacity. This comes after UNESCO announced it was considering adding Venice to its endangered list, partly due to damage caused by high tourist numbers.
What happens if you don’t pay tourist tax?
You could face a fine of between €50 and €300. Officials will be carrying out random checks for QR codes after you’ve entered Venice, which wil show if you have paid the day-tripper tax or if you’re exempt. Around 200 stewards have been trained to explain the process to anyone unaware of the fee.
The fee is not without its critics. Residents took to the streets of Venice yesterday (April 25) in protest of the scheme, which they believe will fail to curb any visitors and only tarnish the city’s reputation. Former Venice mayor Massimo Cacciari even suggested tourists should refuse to pay the fee, as they ‘already pay for everything’, according to the Mail Online.
Venice is on plenty of bucket lists, but to protect it for the future, these measures seem like a necessary step. Venice officials hope that by implementing this new entry charge, the city will become more liveable for residents and enjoyable to visitors.
Venice isn’t the only place that is attempting to combat overtourism. Here’s our full list of destinations that are cracking down on tourists.
Did you see that tourists will now have to pay €25 to visit this iconic European attraction?
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