Venice has implemented a “tourist tax” to try to curb overcrowding during the busiest weekends. Last November, city authorities launched a pilot program for their controversial plan, aiming to charge day visitors for entering the city. Starting from April 25, the pilot program has finally taken effect, with signs informing incoming visitors about the new €5 fee for a 29-day trial period through July. These signs are placed outside the main train station and other key entry points.
Venice Is Charging Tourists
At least 100 people have been trained to assist any tourists who are unaware of the fee by guiding them through the process of downloading a QR code. An information kiosk has also been installed for those without a smartphone. Once past the designated entry points, officials will conduct random checks of the QR codes to ensure that the day-trip tax has been paid or that the visitor is exempt.
Violators face fines ranging from €50 to €300. The requirement applies only to those arriving between 8:30 AM and 4 PM. Outside those hours, entry is free. Tourists can book tickets and obtain their QR code through the online payment platform, which went live on January 16. The entrance fee aims to reduce crowds, encourage longer visits, and improve the quality of life for residents.
The tourist tax launch comes after Venice narrowly avoided being placed on UNESCO’s endangered list last year due to damage caused by excessive tourism to its delicate ecosystem. Member states cited the new entry fee proposal when deciding to exclude Venice from the list. The fee is not an attempt to generate additional revenue, but an experiment to manage the flow of tourists in one of the most visited places in the world.
The goal of the charge is to encourage visitors to avoid peak periods and come on other days. The city is strained when the number of day-trippers reaches 50,000 during peak hours. Its narrow alleyways are packed with people, and the water taxis are full, making it difficult for residents to go about their activities.
This story was written in Spanish by Miguel Fernandez in Cultura Coletiva News.