Venice launches experiment: entry tax for tourists

Venice is a magical city on the water. It attracts millions of tourists every year. The excessive growth of tourists is one of the main problems of this famous city. The infrastructure is overloaded and the environment is negatively affected. The authorities have announced that from spring 2024 an entry tax will come into force for tourists coming to the city for one day only or for a tour (i.e. those who do not stay overnight in the city) in order to reduce the number of tourists.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said that the introduction of the entry tax is a pilot project. The innovation is expected to help unload the city, convince tourists to visit it on less busy days and find a balance between the interests of Venice residents, students and workers, as well as short-stay tourists.

The test period for the introduction of the entry tax will last 29 days from April 25 to May 5, and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in May, June and July. Tourists will be able to purchase a ticket in the form of a QR code on the multilingual online platform cda.ve.it, which will provide all the necessary information about the innovation.

It is necessary to book a ticket and pay the Venice entry tax from 8:30 to 16:00, the cost of the ticket will be €5. Visitors over 14 years old are obliged to pay the tax. The received name QR code will become the main document of a tourist in Venice and it can be checked at any point of the city. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a fine from 50 to 300 euros and doubling of the entrance tax.

Exempt from paying the entry tax:

• tourists passing through Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto or Maritim Station without visiting the old town;
• tourists who stay overnight and have paid the accommodation tax. But they also need to register on the portal cda.ve.it to get an individual QR code.

Visits by tourists to the small islands (Venice Lido, Pellestrina, Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant'Erasmo and many others) will remain free.

After the completion of the experiment, the city will make a final decision on the introduction of a full entry tax. Perhaps this will help to balance the flow of tourists and improve life and environment for the locals.