It’s historic travel news: in what the country’s tourism board is calling a “unique experiment,” the famous canal city of Venice, Italy, is implementing “a daily access fee.” The controversial ‘visitor’s tax’ took effect 25APR after years of debate and delay.
The move is a pilot project that officials hope will ease the pressures of “over-tourism” in one of the most popular and vulnerable historic urban destinations in the world. The UNESCO World Heritage city with only about 60,000 residents reportedly saw 25 million annual visitors pre-pandemic.
If successful, supporters hope the tourist toll will allow the city to become more liveable for its own residents – which in turn, will nurture the famous Venetian lifestyle that visitors to the city come in search for.
“Explore Venice Responsibly!” A statement from tourism officials declares. “Let's embrace this new initiative to maintain the beauty and heritage of our enchanting city.”
According to a statement by Visit Italy on 25APR:
“Starting today, Venice is pioneering a unique experiment - a daily access fee for the city.
On 29 selected days throughout 2024 (April 25-30, May 1-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, June 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30, July 6-7, 13-14), a €5 ticket will be required for day visitors entering Venice between 8:30 AM and 4 PM.”
Access to Venice after 4 PM and until 8:30 AM is free.
Control stations staffed with stewards are set up at key entry points into Venice “to ensure compliance.” Day-trippers who don’t pay up risk being fined up to 300 euro.
There are exemptions for workers, locals and youths. In addition, those with overnight hotel reservations inside Venice are also exempt, as their hotel rate already includes a city tax. But they’ll still have to have a corresponding QR code as proof to pass through checkpoints/ access gates into the city.
There is apparently one lane available for visitors without digital devices.
Where to Buy Tickets:
According to Visit Italy, tickets are available online (here: https://cda.ve.it/en/ ), at tobacco shops, and payment points at Piazzale Roma and Venice Station.
“Venice Pass:”
Tourism officials also encourage visitors to consider purchasing the Venice Pass for unlimited public transport and access to major attractions—to save time and get around using more sustainable public infrastructure: https://www.venicepass.eu/
Cruise, Group Travel Also Affected
As Open Jaw has reported, in 2021 – again, after years of debate and delay – Venice banned large ships in the heart of the city. The toll on day trippers now in effect will therefore also affect large ship cruise passengers who now dock outside Venice and are coached into the city.
Cruise line shore excursion operators and land tour companies bringing groups of day visitors into Venice’s city limits may try to smooth out the effects of the new tax on their guests by making pre-arrangements, but it’s not clear yet how or if that’s possible.
Just the Beginning?
Venice’s ‘experiment’ is one that the travel world – and especially other high-traffic destinations struggling with negative effects of their own popularity – are watching closely. Addressing ‘over-tourism’ is one of the elements of calls for more sustainable and responsible travel.
- Will other cities and destinations that have been sounding the alarms about “over-tourism” follow suit?
- How expensive does a ‘tourist toll’ need to be to reduce visitor traffic to manageable levels in popular places?
- Will ‘tourist tolls’ become so expensive that some of the most iconic places on earth may become inaccessible to many travel lovers?
Takeaways for Travellers:
Some existing, current trends and themes in travel are reinforced by the news of Venice’s tourist tax:
- Spread the Travel Love Around: as popular destinations have been getting busier, more travellers are looking into paths less followed. Off-the-beaten path destinations have many of the same charms (and sometimes more! For travellers who don’t love crowds and lineups) as their more-famous counterparts – and may be more welcoming to visitors. In addition, travellers see their travel budget supporting a new local economy.
- Consider Popular Destinations During the Shoulder or ‘Off’ Season: that’s when they are less busy. Destinations still want visitors, they just don’t want their infrastructure or community overwhelmed. Travelling there during the slow season smooths out spikes in traffic.
- An Expert Travel Advisor is a Traveller’s Best Resource: professional travel advisors are well positioned to help travellers navigate an increasingly complex travel landscape, with ways to maximize travel budget (and potentially avoid paying a tourist toll), have the best visitor experience in a popular destination or help travellers discover new, less-traveled destinations they’ll love as much as the more famous ones.
