On April 25, 2024, Venice, Italy, introduced a 5-euro ($5.35) entry fee for day-trippers as part of an initiative to manage tourist flows and enhance the quality of life for residents. The fee is known as the Venice Access Fee and applies to day-trippers between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those arriving later for dinner or a concert are exempt from the charge. The fee is designed to encourage extended stays and alleviate overcrowding, particularly during peak hours when the number of day-trippers reaches 30,000 to 40,000.

Who Has to Pay to Enter Venice?

All day-trippers over the age of 14 must pay the fee. Those staying overnight in Venice accommodation will not have to pay but will still need to register via the new system. Residents of Venice and the wider Veneto region (and their relatives) will not have to pay an entry fee. People with disabilities, students enrolled to study in the city, and those visiting the city for the day for health reasons or a sporting event or concert are also exempt.

Who’s the First Tourist to Use New Ticketing System

Sylvain Pellarin, the first person to arrive in Venice as the city implemented its tourist entrance fee, expressed his perspective on the controversial initiative. Emerging from the railway station on a rainy morning, Pellarin willingly paid the €5 fee at the new ticket office near the Grand Canal, stating, “I’ve been coming to Venice since I was a child and I have seen mass tourism intensify. I’m fine with paying it if the money is used well to protect the city. I think it’s right that you have to pay to see a place like Venice”.

Registration and QR Code Requirement

All visitors, including day-trippers, will need to pre-book their visit through an online booking platform that launches on January 16. Even those exempt from paying the day-tripper fee will have to register to enter Venice. Upon booking, visitors will receive a QR code that they can then scan at electric turnstiles located at Venice's main access points, including the main train station, to gain access to the city.

Venice's Other Measures to Manage Over-tourism

The entrance fee is another cog in an ambitious and heavily monitored system that tracks the comings and goings of people in the city. In 2022, the council installed a network of cameras, sensors, and mobile phone data in the city to keep track of visitor numbers and information. The purpose of this tracking system is to identify areas where crowds are gathering and temporarily restrict access until the diverting people elsewhere so as not to block pedestrian traffic. Officials say the tracking system gives them a clearer picture of the number of people passing through and allows them to apply more resources in areas like waste management and traffic control on busy days.

Additional Measures to Manage Tourist Influx

From June 1, the Venice City Council will limit walking tours to a maximum of 25 people per group, bringing them into line with the maximum size of tour groups in Venice's museums. Tour groups will also be banned from stopping on bridges or in narrow streets and passageways. The city has also prohibited the use of loudspeakers. Alongside Barcelona and Amsterdam, Venice is one of the poster destinations for over-tourism and its struggles with huge numbers of visitors have been well documented.

UNESCO's Concerns and Italy's Response

In 2022, UNESCO warned of the damage caused by cruise ships and Venice officially banned such ships from the historic city center. UNESCO also expressed concerns about the continuing deterioration due to human intervention, the impacts of climate change and mass tourism. It said that Italy has not done enough to preserve the area, citing a lack of significant progress in addressing the complex issues.

Venice's Rich History and Tourism

Venice, a city built on a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea, has a rich history dating back to the Roman age. The marshy lagoon, initially inhabited by scattered poor fishermen, became an attractive refuge for inhabitants of the Italian cities and villages facing barbaric invasions in the early 5th century AD. The official foundation date of Venice is identified as March 25, 421, and the name comes from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the Veneto region.

In the Middle Ages, Venice formed a strong alliance with the Byzantine Empire, becoming an important port city on the Adriatic Sea and thriving on the trade of silk and spices. The city's economic, political, and cultural development flourished during this period, with the election of the first doge of Venice, Ursus, and the arrival of the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist in 828. Venice became a hub of culture in Europe, embracing the printing press technology and showing tolerance to other religions and confessions.

However, the decline of the Venetian Republic began in the late Middle Ages due to the rise of Portugal and Spain in the age of great geographical discoveries. The city's political independence was lost under the Napoleonic regime, but this period also brought utmost magnificence to Venice, making it one of the most charming, elegant, and culturally powerful cities in Europe.

Since the end of the 18th century, tourism has been at the heart of the Venetian economy, with luxury establishments and small hotels and shops catering to wealthy foreigners. The tourist industry has been actively encouraged by the authorities, with events like the revived ancient Carnival during February, the Biennale, and the Venice International Film Festival attracting thousands of visitors.

Today, Venice is a major Italian port and a significant tourist and cultural centre, recognised for its artistic and architectural patrimony. The city's unique environment, architectural and historical significance, and cultural heritage have made it one of the most prestigious tourist destinations worldwide.