Venice authorities have announced a new pilot program aimed at reducing crowds, improving the quality of life for residents, and preserving the delicate ecosystem of the lagoon city. Starting next year, day-trippers visiting Venice on peak weekends will be required to pay a 5 euro ($5.45) fee per person. The program, called the tourist "contribution," comes after Venice narrowly avoided being placed on the UNESCO World Heritage site's danger list due to overtourism concerns. The proposed entry fee played a significant role in sparing the city from the list.
According to Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, the fee is not intended as a tourist tax or for generating additional revenue. Instead, it aims to regulate tourist flows and encourage visitors to avoid high-traffic periods by incentivizing them to come on other days. The primary goal is to create a more sustainable and livable city for both residents and tourists alike.
The pilot program will be implemented on 29 days between April and mid-July, including most weekends. The day-tripper fee will apply during peak hours from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Visitors who come to Venice for dinner or a concert will be exempt from the fee. Several exceptions also apply, including residents, Venetian-born visitors, students, workers, and tourists with hotel reservations.
To facilitate the process, a website called www.cda.ve.it will be launched on January 16. Visitors will be able to reserve their day in Venice by paying the 5 euro fee and receiving a QR code. Spot controls will be set up at seven access points in the city, including the main train station, where the QR codes will be checked.
Furthermore, tourists with hotel reservations will provide their hotel information to receive a QR code, exempting them from paying the day-tripper fee. The fee will already be included in their hotel bill as part of the Venice lodging fee.
The initiative comes in response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on Venice's tourism industry. The city has been contemplating ways to reevaluate its relationship with visitors to ensure a sustainable and balanced approach. In addition, Venice has faced pressure from UNESCO and environmentalists, which led to the banning of giant cruise ships from passing through St. Mark's Square and the Giudecca canal.
Venice aims to attract longer-term tourists who tend to spend more, as they are seen as crucial for the city's survival. Mayor Brugnaro emphasized that the day-tripper contribution is not intended to discourage tourism overall but rather to manage it better. He acknowledged that the program may encounter some challenges and require adjustments along the way, but after years of planning, it is time to implement the initiative and evaluate its effectiveness in practice.