Venice to charge tourists €5 to enter the city to tackle overtourism

Venice is charging tourists €5 to enter the city. All visitors over 14 will have to pay and book their tickets online in advance.

The trial scheme will start in the spring of 2024. The fee will only apply to day-trippers on days when the city is exceptionally busy. Overnight visitors already pay a tourist tax through their accommodation. The aim is to prevent overcrowding which is placing a huge strain on the city.

Venice is known as La Serenissima - ‘the most serene’, but it’s one of the world’s most visited cities attracting 20 million tourists a year. On a busy day, 120,000 people pass through, more than twice the number of its 55,000 permanent residents, while tourist beds now outnumber resident beds.

Amsterdam has created a €8 day tax for cruise ship visitors. Barcelona charges tourists to see monuments that locals can access for free.

Globally, 4 out of 5 consumers say sustainable travel is important to them, but the slow uptake of sustainable travel products suggests there’s a ‘say-do’ gap. Sustainable travel providers can boost its uptake by offering a greater range of options and incentives.