Venice collects over €5 million from day-tripper entry fee

Authorities in Venice have collected more than €5 million ($5.7 million) this season through the city's entry fee for day-trippers visiting the famous Italian destination, according to DPA.

The fee, ranging from €5 to €10, is charged on 60 high-traffic days during the peak tourist season, from April to July, in an effort to manage overcrowding in the Venetian Lagoon, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

More than 650,000 visitors paid the fee this season. For the remainder of the year, day visitors can enter the city free of charge.

Deputy Mayor Simone Venturini has proposed increasing the fee to between €30 and €50 on days when exceptionally large crowds are expected. However, the city does not have the authority to raise the maximum fee on its own.

Although the entry charge was introduced through a municipal council decision, the upper limit is set by national legislation, meaning local authorities must consult the Italian government before making any changes.

Visitors who book their trip at least three days in advance pay only €5, while overnight guests are exempt from the entry fee but are required to pay the city's tourist tax for each night of their stay.

The controversial scheme, initially introduced as a trial, is now in its third year and has been expanded after first being applied on 29 days during its debut in the summer of 2024.

Last year, Venice recorded more than 720,000 day visitors, generating approximately €5.4 million in revenue.

The funds are intended to improve the management of mass tourism in Venice, renowned worldwide for its canals, historic palaces, St. Mark's Square, and the Rialto Bridge.

Critics argue, however, that the entry fee has failed to discourage tourists from visiting the city despite its goal of reducing overtourism.

Today, only around 50,000 people still live in Venice's historic center—a figure that is now lower than the total number of hotel beds available in the city.

Photo: Wikipedia