Venice may increase tourist fee after having mediocre success at capping crowds
Venice's trial payment system for tourists did not significantly reduce crowds, prompting discussions of fee adjustments for next year. City council plans to renew and potentially increase charges in 2025. Debate arises over effectiveness of the s...
By ET Online |
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Venice is planning to increase its fee for day trippers in the next year, with the pilot project having limited impact on thinning crowds in the tourist hotspot in Italy.
Venice's experimental payment system for tourists had only a limited impact on reducing crowds in the lagoon city, signaling a likely increase in fees next year, according to Simone Venturini, the city councillor responsible for tourism and social cohesion.
In a global first, Venice introduced a €5 ($5.44) charge in April for daytrippers on particularly congested days, aiming to deter some visitors. The pilot scheme, which lasted 29 days, ends on Sunday and will be followed by a consultation period to determine the project's future.
While Venturini stated that the initial assessment was positive and confirmed the system would be renewed in 2025, he acknowledged that large crowds persisted. "On some weekends there were less people than the same time last year ... but no one expected that all the day trippers would miraculously disappear," Venturini told Reuters.
He believes the system will be more effective in the future with an increased number of chargeable days and higher fees, though he did not specify the amount visitors might pay in 2025. The city council aims to discourage daytrippers, especially during weekends and holidays when visitors can exceed 100,000—double the number of local residents. Visitors with hotel reservations were exempt from the levy.
Not everyone supports the continuation of the scheme. Opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini labeled it a failure, citing persistent tourist crowds and a decline in the number of people paying the charge as word spread that fines were not being enforced. Venturini admitted there had been "very few, or probably no fines," but said the initial phase focused on informing visitors rather than penalizing them.
Martini proposed a free booking system for visitor slots to avoid pricing out lower-income families while tracking tourist arrivals. He emphasized the need to warn visitors about overcrowded days to ensure a better experience and suggested the long-term goal should be to attract full-time residents back to Venice, as short-term rentals have increasingly dominated the housing market.
Venice's experimental payment system for tourists had only a limited impact on reducing crowds in the lagoon city, signaling a likely increase in fees next year, according to Simone Venturini, the city councillor responsible for tourism and social cohesion.
In a global first, Venice introduced a €5 ($5.44) charge in April for daytrippers on particularly congested days, aiming to deter some visitors. The pilot scheme, which lasted 29 days, ends on Sunday and will be followed by a consultation period to determine the project's future.
While Venturini stated that the initial assessment was positive and confirmed the system would be renewed in 2025, he acknowledged that large crowds persisted. "On some weekends there were less people than the same time last year ... but no one expected that all the day trippers would miraculously disappear," Venturini told Reuters.
He believes the system will be more effective in the future with an increased number of chargeable days and higher fees, though he did not specify the amount visitors might pay in 2025. The city council aims to discourage daytrippers, especially during weekends and holidays when visitors can exceed 100,000—double the number of local residents. Visitors with hotel reservations were exempt from the levy.
Not everyone supports the continuation of the scheme. Opposition councillor Giovanni Andrea Martini labeled it a failure, citing persistent tourist crowds and a decline in the number of people paying the charge as word spread that fines were not being enforced. Venturini admitted there had been "very few, or probably no fines," but said the initial phase focused on informing visitors rather than penalizing them.
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Martini proposed a free booking system for visitor slots to avoid pricing out lower-income families while tracking tourist arrivals. He emphasized the need to warn visitors about overcrowded days to ensure a better experience and suggested the long-term goal should be to attract full-time residents back to Venice, as short-term rentals have increasingly dominated the housing market.
In recent years, over-tourism has become a growing concern for many popular travel destinations worldwide. Cities and regions traditionally known for attracting millions of visitors each year are now taking proactive measures to curb the negative impacts of overwhelming tourism.
Here's a look at some destinations that are fed up with excessive tourists and the steps they are taking to manage the influx.
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