Venice is putting a new spin on combating mass tourism and its damaging effects on its fragile ecosystem. After banning more than 25,000 tons of boats in its historic center and closing souvenir shops, the next project for the town of Doggeri is the introduction of a tax announced in 2021 for day visitors. This measure, which was supposed to enter into force in June, was finally postponed until January 16, 2023. reports Simone Venturini on Friday July 1stThe councilor responsible for tourism for the city, speaking “great revolution“. Those planning to visit Venice this summer will therefore not be involved.
To enter the city from this date, the visitor must pay a tax, which varies from 3 to 10 euros, depending on the time of year and the number of visitors to the Serenissima at the time it will create the site. it is possible to book a visit and ‘turnstiles’ will be placed at the entry points to the lagoon to monitor the arrival of visitors. Failure to comply with the right of access will result in fines ranging from €50 to €300. Those staying in hotels in Venice will be exempt, as they are already subject to tourist tax on their overnight stay, as well as children under six, visitors to cultural and sporting events and people with reduced mobility, according to Travel Weekly.
It remains to delimit the perimeter of the bay, which will be affected by this measure. Bloomberg understands it will travel from the Grand Canal to the outlying islands of Lido, Murano and Tocello.
We don’t want people to stop visiting Venice, on the contrary. We wish they could stay longer
Simone Venturini in Le Figaro
Asked about this event Le Figaro In August 2021, Simone assured Venturini that the set amount was intentionally low because “money is nothing“. “We don’t want people to stop visiting Venice, on the contrary. We want them to stay longer, ideally three to four days.According to him, all money collected will be reinvested in transportation, cleanliness and security to provide a better experience for travelers and a higher quality of life for residents. “We are criticized by those who think we are going to turn Venice into Disneyland. It’s a risk, we know, but the younger generation is following us, and we can’t sit idly by against this over-tourism that threatens our city.” he concluded.
Many destinations are introducing mandatory bookings, meters and quotas to limit the flow of visitors and thus combat over-tourism. A recent example is the Sugiton river near Marseille, which has been allowing 400 people a day access to its two inlets since June 26. Visitors who violate this rule will be fined 68 euros.
Source: Le Figaro
