In a move to manage the overwhelming influx of tourists, Venice will expand its daytripper entry fee scheme in 2024. The fee will be applied on 54 selected dates, nearly double the number from the previous year. The cost per visitor will rise to 10 euros, double last year's rate. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to regulate tourist flow and preserve the city's unique cultural and architectural heritage.
The entry fee targets daytrippers entering Venice's city center between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. However, the fee will be reduced to 5 euros for those who book at least four days in advance, encouraging early planning among tourists. Overnight visitors, who contribute differently to the city's economy, are exempt from this fee but must register online for their exemption. Additionally, those transiting through Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto, or Stazione Marittima, as well as visitors to the outer islands like Lido, Murano, and Burano, will not incur the fee.
Last year, nearly half a million visitors paid the entrance fee, contributing approximately 2.4 million euros to the city's coffers. The pilot project saw a "light reduction" in the number of daytrippers from the local Veneto region, indicating a shift towards more sustainable tourism practices.
Simone Venturini, Venice's tourism councillor, emphasized the program's success and its continuation into the upcoming season.
“The pilot project [of 2024] worked,” said Simone Venturini, the city’s tourism councillor, at the BIT tourism fair in Milan.
Venturini further elaborated on the scheme's objectives.
“The aim remains the same: create a new system to manage tourist flow and disincentivize daytripper tourism in several periods, in line with the delicate and unique nature of the city, to guarantee the respect that it merits.”
The expansion of this entry fee scheme has captured global attention, with other destinations reaching out to Venice authorities to learn from their approach. This indicates a growing interest in sustainable tourism models worldwide.
