City Aims to Regulate Tourism and Preserve Venice’s Historic Charm

Venice, Italy – Tourists planning to explore the enchanting canals and rich history of Venice, Italy, will need to budget for an additional expense starting in the spring of 2024. In an effort to manage and regulate the influx of visitors, the city’s officials have announced a 30-day “experiment” that will require non-resident visitors aged 14 and above to pay a 5-euro entrance fee on peak days when they are not staying overnight.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro shared this decision via social media, emphasizing that the fee will help strike a balance between preserving the city’s unique character and accommodating tourists. However, exemptions will be in place for certain groups, including locals, commuters, and individuals with second homes in Venice.

The specifics of the 2024 experiment, including the exact 30-day period, will be determined by the city council in the coming weeks, according to a news release from the City of Venice. The primary objective of this initiative is to discourage daily tourism during peak periods, such as spring holidays and summer weekends.

While emphasizing the need to regulate tourist flows, Mayor Brugnaro also assured that Venice will remain open to all visitors. In his words, “#Venezia will always remain open to everyone,” posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Michele Zuin, the councilor for the budget, highlighted the importance of achieving a balance between housing and tourism. He stated, “The message we want to give is that Venice is accessible and open, but visitors, whether from the nation or abroad, must recognize the necessity for thoughtful planning to maintain this delicate equilibrium.”

The introduction of an entrance fee for day-trippers in Venice follows a broader trend in Italy, as the Pantheon in Rome also implemented a 5-euro entrance fee for tourists. Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano described this move as a matter of “good sense.” It comes five years after a previous government had shelved plans to charge visitors 2 euros.

In February, the United Kingdom also announced plans to introduce a fee for U.S. citizens entering the country as part of its Electronic Travel Authorization scheme. This measure aims to enhance border security and provide more accurate data on travelers, aligning with the U.K.’s goal of fully digitizing its borders by 2025.