Venice to charge entrance fee?

Good for Venice!

Been bandied about for some time, will only be done on a few days out of the year, fee was cut down to 5 euro, not required if you stay in Venice, not required of course for residents, not required for some who live in the region, etc.. They project that the fees will just barely cover the administrative cost of selling the passes.

Will it help? This is being promoted as more of a test. Aside from the confusion for visitors as to when it might be required, it likely will not limit crowds. An early version of the system talked about capping the number of visitors, but the numbers they were talking were more than many of the busiest days seen now. In the end, probably no impact, they would need to put in serious limits on the number of passes, as well as significantly up the price (50 euro?), but I suppose a it is a start.

I love the idea. They should make it 50 euro a day.

I'm still figuring out if I'll have to pay for a three-night stay and a later two-night stay this October? One Air BnB included a requirement to pay in cash on check-in, but just one, the others didn't mention it.

It seems the idea is for day visitors but it might be for all visitors. Like most of these fees/taxes, I seriously doubt it will accomplish anything other than raising some cash to put in a select few pockets.

Travel Boss, There are (or will be) two types of tourist taxes. One is the "overnight tax" (started in 2011) that you will pay at your accommodation. It must be paid in cash.

The other is the "access fee" called the day-trippers tax that will be in place on various days during the busy season.

You won't have to pay both. If you stay at a Venice hotel, you will only pay the "overnight" tax. If you only visit Venice on a day trip, you have to pre-book it and pay the "day-trippers" tax.

Someone please correct me if my understanding is incorrect.

TravelBoss

If you are staying in Venice, then this does not apply, with the exception that nothing has been announced as to what "proof" one carries around if you are in a hotel, or more sticky, staying in an AirBnB or other private let, or even just with a resident.

Add to this, the fee will only apply for some days, not all, so one would assume a list of dates will be published.

Like in any previous attempt, the implementation date will be postponed right before it is supposed to start. Or if they do it, it will turn out to be such a "casino" (royal mess), that they will stop immediately after.

Heaven is where the cooks are French, the policemen are English, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by the Swiss
Hell is where the cooks are English, the policemen are German, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss and everything is organized by the Italians.

Like most of these fees/taxes, I seriously doubt it will accomplish
anything other than raising some cash to put in a select few pockets.

I'm with you. I have a deep mistrust of the motives of politicians, and of bureaucracy to get out of its own way and be able implement a system that doesn't cost more than the revenue it brings in.

bureaucracy to get out of its own way and be able implement a system that doesn't cost more than the revenue it brings in.

Actually, when they lowered the fee to 5 euro, they openly stated that the revenue generated would only barely cover the administrative cost to distribute the passes. This is being promoted as a "test", which would logically mean that in application, the cost would need to go up, which as I stated, would need to be closer to 50 euro to discourage visitors and provide meaningful funds for maintenance or improvement...but that will never happen. While many cities lament overtourism, it is like lamenting about having too many customers, a problem, but not one you want to solve. Cities instead focus on removing the "bad" tourists, which in their eyes are the ones that do not spend enough, or create disturbance. Unfortunately, budget travelers, like a number on this forum, tend to be classed as "bad tourists".

It is a measure that won’t discourage anyone. With 5 euro in Venice you can’t even buy a small sandwich. You need almost 10 euro for a ride on a crowded vaporetto. At the same time you don’t need only an administrative infrastructure to sell the passes, you need an even bigger one to guard all the entry points in a city that can be accessed from many points on foot or by boat and to check everybody’s passes. How many police agents or city stewards do you need for that? Hundreds if not thousands. And they all expect to be paid. No these measures are only “political theater”. Next year there are major elections in Italy (for the European Parliament) and the campaign has already started.