VENICE: Venice authorities have planned to charge visitors with an entry fee of 5 euros ($5.35) for a day in a bid to manage the flux of tourists to the historic city, western media reported on Tuesday.
The fee will be charged for 30 days next year on a trial basis. It would be imposed during spring holidays and summer weekends when tourists’ numbers are at their highest level. All tourists over the age of 14 will have to pay the entry fee.
Fee to protect rights of Venice residents
Venice tourism councilor Simone Venturini has said the objective of the move is to find a new balance between the rights of the citizens of Venice and the visitors.
He said the fee would only cover the cost of administration schemes adding that it is not for money making. The exact dates of the execution of the plan will be agreed after final council approval next week.
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The plan was first postponed in in 2019, but was initially delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic which kept tourists away from the city.
The city, however, has seen a surge of visitors in recent days overwhelming its narrow alleys. Over tourism has long been an issue for the historic city.
In July, UNESCO suggested that that Venice and its lagoon be included to its list of World Heritage in Danger, saying the Italian government was not making enough efforts to protect the city from the consequences of climate change and mass tourism.
