Venice tourist tax could backfire immediately as visitors reveal true feelings on £4 fee

Venice has introduced a new, controversial tourist tax aimed at curbing the number of daytrippers entering the Italian lagoon for a short visit.

The historic city has seen the number of tourists growing exponentially over the years – particularly those who only spend the day in the lagoon before moving elsewhere or returning home.

Some 3.2 million visitors spent the night in Venice‘s centre in 2022, a number that pales in comparison with the 30 million people who only spend a day in the city.

Overtourism, alongside the effects of climate change and over-development in the lagoon, brought UNESCO in 2023 to consider adding the city to its World Heritage in Danger list.

While Venice avoided receiving this status, its authorities moved to act on trying to curb the number of tourists.

But the introduction on April 25 of the £4.29 (€5) entry ticket may not be enough of a deterrent for large crowds.

Some of those who forked out the small fee on the day it was introduced said to be happy to pay, with one tourist telling the Telegraph he would be “willing to pay €10 (£8.50)” to see Venice and support it.

Another Luca Perotti, admitted it was a “bummer” having to pay the tax, particularly as he had initially meant to visit it the day before, when the ticket was not required. 

However, he told the news outlet: “We could have spent the money on a gelato or something. But I guess in the grand scheme of things, €5 is not so bad. Although it doesn’t seem to have reduced the number of tourists. The place is rammed.”

Some residents also believe a relatively cheap entry ticket in a city notorious for the prices in some of its most central bars and restaurants will do very little to keep people away.

Federica Toninello, who leads housing association ASC and co-organised a protest march on this fee on Thursday, told the Guardian: “They think this measure will solve the problem, but they haven’t really understood the consequences of mass tourism on a city like Venice. 

“For a start, €5 will do nothing to deter people. But day-trippers aren’t the issue; things like the shortage of affordable housing are … What we need are policies to help residents, for example, making rules to limit things like Airbnb.”

Venice is believed to be the first city in the world to have introduced a similar tourist tax, an entry ticket that critics claimed is turning it into a “theme park”.

It only applies to day-trippers and sees locals, students, commuters and children below the age of 14 among others being exempted from it, although they still need to register online before arrival or provide a document showing why they don’t need to pay the tax.