Approved to charge entry to Venice
The municipality also received approval for the issue, which has been on the agenda for some time. According to the written statement of the Venice City Council, the Venice Municipal Council approved by majority the decision presented by the municipal administration on the charging of entrance fees to tourists who visit the city daily.
The practice, under which daily tourists will be asked to pay a 5-euro entrance fee, is expected to come into effect in spring 2024, when tourist density increases.
According to the schedule to be determined by the municipal council, daily tourists will be charged tickets on 30 separate days, which are expected to be occupied in 2024. Those staying in establishments within the municipality of Venice, those residing in the Veneto region where Venice is located, children under 14 years of age, those in need of care, those participating in sports competitions and secondary school students who travel. exempt from paying this fee.
It was stated that the objective of this decision was to prevent daily tourism in certain periods, in accordance with the delicate structure of the city.
In his statement following the decision adopted by the city council, the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, stated that this is a regulatory measure against excessive tourist density and stated: “We must try to find a system that protects the city from mass tourism, which makes the city uninhabitable on certain days of the year. “We will carry out the tests with great humility and we will try not to harm anyone,” he stated.
Although there were circles that supported the decision, some reacted by saying that this decision would turn Venice into an open-air museum or a children’s playground with an entrance.
Similar practices were included on the Venice agenda in previous years, but this practice was not implemented due to different reasons, such as the COVID-19 epidemic.
Venice, with its historic structure built on canals, welcomes millions of tourists every year. (AA)