According to the written statement made by the Municipality of Venice, the Venice Municipal Council approved by majority vote the decision brought forward by the municipal administration regarding the charging of entrance fees from daily tourists visiting the city.
Accordingly, the application, in which daily tourists will be asked to pay a 5 euro entrance fee, is expected to be put into effect in the spring of 2024, when the tourist density increases.
In line with the calendar to be determined by the municipal council, entrance fees will be charged from daily tourists on 30 separate days, which are expected to be busy in 2024.
Those staying in facilities within the borders of the Venice Municipality, those residing in the Veneto Region where Venice is located, children under the age of 14, those in need of care, those participating in sports competitions, and high school students traveling will be exempt from paying this fee.
It was stated that the purpose of this decision was to prevent daily tourism in certain periods, in accordance with the sensitive structure of the city.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, in his statement following the decision adopted by the city council, argued that this was a regulatory step for excessive tourist density and said, “We must try to find a system that will protect the city from mass tourism, which makes the city uninhabitable on certain days of the year. We will test with great humility, we will test against anyone.” We will try not to cause any harm.” he said.
Although there were circles that supported the decision, some expressed their reaction that this decision would turn Venice into something like an open-air museum or playground with an entrance fee.
Similar practices were brought to the agenda in Venice in previous years, but this practice was not implemented due to different reasons such as the Covid-19 epidemic.
Venice, with its historical structure built on canals, hosts millions of tourists every year.