Venice’s New Tourist Fee Met with Fierce Local Protests

2024-05-23

One of the most visited cities in the world is charging an entrance fee for day trips, the first ‘tourist tax’ of its kind.

Venice Entry Fee

Image Credit: Shutterstock / RossHelen

On April 25, the historic Italian city of Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for day-tripping visitors. The move has sparked approval from some and outrage in others. 

Access Contribution

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Luca Ponti

The city’s new contributo di accesso, also known as an ‘access contribution’, began charging tourists a 5 euro fee, or $5.40 USD, between 8 am and 4 pm as part of a pilot period to test how well the system will work. 

A City Sinking

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Guna Leite

The new contribution system is being enacted in the hopes of offsetting the worst effects of tourism on the city. The twin problems of over-tourism and rising sea levels mean that the antique city is now literally sinking into the surrounding waters that have made it so famous.

Pilot Period

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Beautiful landscape

Visitors arriving on day trips will be charged daily from April 25 to May 5, with charges then shifting to the weekend only until July 14.

No Charge For Overnight Stays

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Motortion Films

The fee will not apply to visitors who plan to stay in the city overnight, as they will already pay an overnight tax automatically tacked onto their accommodation costs. 

Other Exemptions

Image Credit: Shutterstock / AS photo family

Exemptions will also be given to children under the age of 14, holders of the European Disability Card, Armed Forces, and Law Enforcement Forces personell, those who reside in the Veneto region, and those who were born in Venice. Italians residing outside the Veneto region will also be required to pay. 

Anti-Fee Protests

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture

But even before the new fee was implemented, its announcement sparked anger and protests both in and outside of the city. 

Clashes Between Police and Protestors

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Tsuguliev

On the first day that the fee was introduced, the streets of Venice were filled with protestors condemning the fee and even clashing with police.

Hundreds Gather

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kate Kony

Hundreds of people gathered at the entrance point to the city, also known as the Piazzale Roma, and the city’s main train station, carrying signs and banners with words of protest. 

How Much Can It Do?

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Krakenimages.com

People who were against the new ‘tourist tax’ claimed that it would do little to alleviate the damage being done to city infrastructure due to the 30 million visitors the city receives each year.

“Doesn’t Stop the Monoculture of Tourism”

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Microgen

“A ticket does nothing. It doesn’t stop the monoculture of tourism,” said Ruggero Tallon, a protest organizer who works with the activist group No Grandi Navi, which campaigns against cruise ships in the region.

“A Medieval Tax”

Image Credit: Shutterstock / tativophotos

“It doesn’t ease the pressure on Venice. It’s a medieval tax and it’s against freedom of movement,” he continued. 

Not Facing the Real Problems

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

Protestors like Tallon believe that overtourism, and the city’s over-reliance on the industry, particularly companies like AirBnb, are the main problems that Venice faces.

A Global Problem

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Studio Romantic

He accused private companies of “doing everything to increase the number of tourists,” which was becoming a global problem, not one specific to Venice.

“The Only Way Forward”

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kirk Fisher

“The only way [forward] is to repopulate the city – we have 49,000 inhabitants and there are more beds for tourists than residents,” he said. “Let’s try to make it possible for people to live here. Every house that’s lived in is a house taken away from tourism.”

Damaging Venice’s Reputation

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kristin Speed

Other critics claimed it could negatively affect the image and reputation of the city, which has long been one of the most visited areas in the world due to its famous canals, gondoliers, and historic buildings. 

Everyone Is Against It

Image Credit: Shutterstock / TZIDO SUN

Another protest leader, Matteo Secchi of the activist group Venessia.com, claimed that “the entire city is against” the fee. 

Turning Venice Into a Theme Park

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pani Garmyder

“You can’t impose an entrance fee to a city; all they’re doing is transforming it into a theme park,” he told reporters. “This is a bad image for Venice … I mean, are we joking?”

Propped Up By Tourism

Image Credit: Shutterstock / ChiccoDodiFC

In fact, some have argued that it is only the enormous influx of tourists that keeps the city propped up. Venice has been steadily losing its permanent population since the 1950s – it has lost 120,000 residents since then, leaving its estimated population at just 50,000 in the historic city area as of 2024. 

Former Mayor Weighs In

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Adam Jan Figel

Among its critics is former mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, who called the entrance fee “absurd” and encouraged visitors not to pay it on the basis that tourists already “pay for everything” in a public statement.

Tourist Burden

Image Credit: Shutterstock / wideonet

He also noted that tourists pay “three times as much as residents” and are largely responsible for the survival of city restaurant museums. 

A Regulation Strategy

Image Credit: Shutterstock / ChiccoDodiFC

But current mayor Luigi Brugnaro has defended the fee, calling it a potential strategy to help regulate overtourism. “Nobody has ever done anything to regulate tourism and we believed it was necessary to do something,” Brugnaro said in a public statement.

23 Steep Taxes Adding to California Residents’ Burden

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Alex Millauer

California: a place of sunshine, innovation, and, unfortunately, some of the nation’s highest taxes. From LA’s beaches to Silicon Valley’s tech hubs, residents grapple with a maze of state taxes. Here’s a glance at 23 taxes that might surprise both Californians and outsiders. 23 Steep Taxes Adding to California Residents’ Burden

Cash in on Nostalgia: 21 Toys Now Worth a Fortune

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kostikova Natalia

Time to dust off the boxes and find that once-cherished toy from your childhood. For collectors and enthusiasts, they items have become valued objects and they can be worth big bucks – are there any of these in your attic? Cash in on Nostalgia: 21 Toys Now Worth a Fortune

Millennials Don’t Buy These 19 Products Anymore

Image Credit: Shutterstock / mariakray

Millennials are changing consumer habits, quietly replacing once-staple products and traditions. Often criticized for their disruptive preferences, this generation is reshaping the marketplace with digital expertise, ethical buying, and a taste for the unconventional. Millennials Don’t Buy These 19 Products Anymore

10 Reasons Firearms Are Essential to America’s Fabric

Image Credit: Shutterstock / rblfmr

Americans’ strong attachment to guns is influenced by constitutional rights, historical context, and cultural traditions. This article explores the cultural perspective driving their unwavering support for gun ownership, revealing the key factors shaping this enduring aspect of American life. 10 Reasons Firearms Are Essential to America’s Fabric

California’s 16 New Laws Raise Red Flags for Prospective Residents

Image Credit: Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

California, celebrated for its beaches, tech prowess, and diversity, is now gaining attention for its recent legislation, prompting some residents to reconsider their residency. Explore the new laws of 2024 and the controversies and migration they’re stirring. California’s 16 New Laws Raise Red Flags for Prospective Residents

The post Venice’s New Tourist Fee Met with Fierce Local Protests first appeared on Thrift My Life.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / giocalde.

The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.