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According to statistics from the Venice city government, approximately 25 million tourists visit Venice each year, with about 14 million spending only one day in this beautiful northern Italian city. They come to Venice primarily for sightseeing, generating little income for local businesses. Therefore, the Venice council has decided that tourists will have to pay a fee of 3 euros per year to visit Venice. This amount will increase to between 6 and 10 euros starting in 2020 (depending on the peak or off-peak tourist season).
Piazza San Marco in Venice
The city of Venice has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As of the end of 2018, Italy had a total of 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it the country with the most World Heritage Sites globally.
Luigi Brugnaro, the Mayor of Venice, shared that this fee will not apply to tourists staying overnight in Venice, as these individuals are already subject to taxes at the local hotels where they are staying.
The Basilica di San Marco in Venice
Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region (where Venice is the capital), welcomed the city council's decision: "Venice needs to be maintained and cared for like its museums, sports stadiums, cinemas, trains, and airplanes… This fee will contribute to the sustainable development of Venice, benefiting both tourists and the city."
Venice's population has declined dramatically in recent times: from around 175,000 after World War II to approximately 50,000 today. Current residents complain that their city is being overwhelmed by tourists, impacting their lives.
Mayor Brugnaro revealed that the city has to spend an additional 30 million euros annually on cleaning and sanitation in the city center due to the overwhelming influx of tourists from all over the world. This tourism boom has also become a major problem in many other European cities.
Rialto Bridge in Venice
In 2017, the city of Dubrovnik (Croatia) had to limit the number of tourists arriving on cruise ships to visit this tranquil ancient city.
In Spain, many residents of cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Majorca, and San Sebastian have strongly protested to local authorities about the recent surge in tourists and demanded that leaders take concrete measures to control the situation.
