The historic Italian city plans to introduce measures to control tourist numbers as it faces “overtourism,” La Stampa newspaper reported.
According to Bloomberg, the entrance fee to Venice can range from 3 to 10 euros (about 80,000-270,000 VND), depending on the season and time of day. The fee will not apply to people who already live in Venice, their relatives and children. Visitors may also have to pay if staying in hotels in the city. However, if this model of charging fees spreads, it could be a sign of a two-way economy where only a few people can afford to participate.
These policies show how the pandemic and climate crisis have forced local economies to come up with solutions to problems that could threaten their future. Venice has long struggled to balance its popularity as a tourist destination with the quality of life for its residents.
Tourist control room in Venice
Venetians and tourists alike are now being closely monitored as they move around the city. In early 2021, the city government launched the “Venice Control Room,” which tracks the number of visitors in the city and their movements. It uses mobile phone data to track where tourists are coming from. All of these measures are aimed at creating more sustainable tourism in an already over-touristed city.
Venice is now hiring armed guards to help control overcrowding on ferries into the city. Legal representatives for some of those ferry workers say some have been “physically attacked” as tourists return in increasing numbers.
Venice is suffering from 'over-tourism'
Last month, UNESCO recommended that Venice be placed on its list of world heritage sites in danger, but Venice avoided the move by banning large cruise ships and announcing it would update UNESCO on measures to curb "overtourism" in 2022.
In June, a large cruise ship passing through the city caused concern and led to protests, with celebrities signing an open letter calling on the government to stop such ships and better manage tourism.
