Venice Will Experiment With Daily Entry Fee and Visitor Cap From April 2024

Venice is set to initiate a groundbreaking approach by implementing a daily admission fee and a cap on visitor access to its renowned canals starting next April. The move, deemed the world’s first of its kind, is a strategic effort to manage the influx of tourists during peak times, particularly on spring bank holidays and select summer weekends, as announced by local authorities in a press conference on Thursday.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro expressed, “It is the first time in the world that you do something like this, you make a city bookable.”

The restrictions are slated to be enforced from 08:30 to 16:00 local time, initially spanning 29 days and encompassing most weekends from April 25 to mid-July next year. Travelers will be required to book their visits online, paying 5 euros ($5.45) to acquire a QR code. This code will be checked at designated entry points, granting access to the historic quarters of the city. Notably, the restrictions will not extend to the smaller islands in the lagoon, such as Murano, renowned for its glass-making industry.

Sanctions for non-compliance with the measure will range from 50 to 310 euros. However, exemptions will be granted to residents, individuals born in Venice, students, workers, and homeowners in the city. Councillor Michele Zuin clarified that these exempt groups will not be required to pay or book a slot. Additionally, visitors under the age of 14 will need to be registered, but their access will be free of charge.

Venice has grappled with challenges posed by mass tourism and floods, both threatening the city’s delicate lagoon environment and cultural heritage. Mayor Brugnaro acknowledged the experimental nature of the initiative, stating, “We want to measure the effect of this trial, we want to measure the effect of this bookability,” recognizing that the trial phase may initially incur losses, with estimated costs of 3 million euros against anticipated proceeds of about 700,000 euros.

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