(ConservativeHub.com) – Venice, the renowned Italian city, revealed on September 5 its plan to implement a $5.50 fee for day visitors starting in 2024. According to Fox Business, the Associated Press reported that for a trial period of 30 days, this fee will be in place during the weekends over the spring and summer.
Pending final approval on September 12, this initiative is intended to reduce short-term tourism during specific times to protect the city’s delicate nature and distinctiveness, as mentioned in an official statement from Venice. The charge will be applied to visitors 14 years old and up.
Exceptions to this fee will be made for those commuting to work in Venice or its nearby islands, residents of the Veneto region, and overnight guests who already incur a hotel tax.
The purpose of this charge is to achieve harmony between those who live, work, and visit the city, according to tourism councilor Simone Venturini. According to reports, Venturini made these comments to Reuters.
In 2019, Venice witnessed approximately 19 million day-trippers, according to AP. However, these visitors didn’t significantly contribute to the city’s revenues in comparison to those who stayed overnight.
The idea of this entrance fee was initially proposed in 2019. However, its execution was postponed due to the health emergency in 2020, as informed by Reuters.
Furthermore, in July, specialists from UNESCO advised adding Venice and its lagoon to the World Heritage in Danger list. They reportedly suggested that the Italian authorities weren’t sufficiently addressing climate change challenges and tourism impacts in the area.
In comparison to the large numbers of annual tourists, an estimated 50,000 inhabitants reside in Venice’s central zone.
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