Visiting Venice will be paid: who will have to pay to enter the city
Tourists who will come to Italian Venice for one day will have to pay a fee. This rule will enter into force on January 16, 2023.
This applies to those travelers who have decided not to stay in the city for the night in hotels, hostels, or other houses. Tourists will have to register online in advance, specifying the date of visit. The amount of the fee will be from 3 to 10 euros, depending on the season, and the number of people in the city.
Those who won't comply with the new visiting rules will face a fine of up to 300 euros.
According to local authorities, about 80% of tourists come to Venice for just one day. In high season, the number of tourists often exceeds the number of local residents. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 19 million one-day travelers visited Venice. But they provided only a small fraction of the income for the city compared to those who stayed at least one night.
Guests of hotels, hostels, etc., will be exempted from paying the tax because they already pay the tax on accommodation, which is included in the rental price. Exceptions will also be made for children under 6 years of age, people with disabilities, and homeowners in Venice (provided they present the relevant documents).
The tourism advisor of Venice commented on this decision as follows:
"We are not talking about reducing the number of tourists. We are talking about incentives and disincentives," Simone Venturini told a press conference in Venice. He promised that the new payment system will be simple for visitors.
The introduction of a city visit fee for day-trippers was discussed in Venice a few years ago. But travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to virtual disappearance of tourist flows to Venice. But now this issue has become relevant again.
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