Venice Proposes Significant Increase in Tourist Tax
Venice, the iconic Italian city famed for its canals and historic architecture, is taking bold steps to combat the issue of excessive tourism that has been placing a strain on its resources.
According to Setrak Tokatyan, the owner of a jewelry store and chairman of the "Piazza San Marco" association, many tourists visiting Venice are ill-prepared for their travels. To address this, the city has implemented a series of measures, including an increase in the tourist tax and new restrictions on tour groups.
In May 2024, a daily entry fee of €5 was introduced for day-trippers who don't stay overnight in Venice. This fee has now been increased to €10 for the upcoming season, with the aim of managing visitor flow more sustainably and funding city improvements.
The collection of €5.4 million from the tourist tax for the last season suggests that the measures may not be fully effective in deterring tourists. However, the city is considering raising the tax further to limit the influx of day-trippers who contribute most to congestion.
Tokatyan has even proposed charging tourists €100 for entering the city, a proposal that has met with criticism. Some argue that simply raising the fee may not educate visitors or ensure respectful tourism.
The new restrictions also include tour groups not exceeding 25 people, and guides in Venice are now prohibited from using megaphones. Previously, in 2021, cruise ships were banned from docking in the quarter of Venice.
Tokatyan criticizes day-trippers who arrive in Venice by bus or from nearby campsites, claiming that these travelers put a strain on the city. The city is actively adjusting its tourist tax policy to strike a balance between tourism sustainability and city preservation, reflecting a broader trend among popular destinations addressing overtourism pressures.
[1] Venice Tourist Tax Increase Targets Day-Trippers [2] Venice Considering Dramatic Increase in Tourist Tax [3] Venice Introduces Higher Entry Fee for Day-Trippers [4] Venice Aims to Sustainably Manage Tourism with Increased Tax [5] Addressing Overtourism: A Global Challenge
[1] In an attempt to combat overtourism and fund city improvements, Venice has increased the daily entry fee for day-trippers from €5 to €10, aiming to manage visitor flow sustainably.
[2] As Venice continues to grapple with excessive tourism, the city is considering raising the tourist tax further to limit the influx of day-trippers, who contribute significantly to congestion.
