Venice introduces tourist tax on trial basis

ITALY – The fragile lagoon city of Venice has introduced a trial project by implementing a tourist tax of €5 (£4.30) as over-tourism has hit the region hard.

The tax has to be paid only between 08:30 AM to 4 PM. As per media reports, the fee will be applied as part of a trial run from Saturday until Sunday, May 5. The tourist tax will then be charged every weekend between 8.30 am and 4 pm (excluding June 1 and 2) until Sunday, July 14.  

The purpose of the tourism tax is to reduce visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more livable for its residents. In this regard, tourists arriving at Venice’s main train station were welcomed with large signs informing them about the tourist tax.

As far as the core reason behind the tax is concerned, the city gets overcrowded by overturism, which is causing damage to historic buildings and making overtourism uncomfortable for residents. In the past, it has also been witnessed that the number of visitors a day gets way higher, especially during peak hours. For a rough idea, day-trippers reach 30,000 to 40,000, and on peak days, local police set up one-way traffic for pedestrians to avoid congestion.

The city’s top tourism official commented on the development by stating that they need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents as well as need to secure the spaces of the residents.

The new visitor fee is not for everyone who is entering the city. For instance, those entering between 4 pm to 8.30 am won’t have to pay the fee. It has to be clarified that the tax is being imposed on a trial basis and whether it would be charged permanently relies on the outcome of the move.