Protests and mixed reports marked the start of testing for Venice’s new entrance fee system for day-trippers, with QR codes required to access the city. The test phase will span 29 dates between now and July, aimed at managing over-tourism and protecting resident spaces.
Among those opposed to the measure is the former former mayor Massimo Cacciari who urged tourists not to pay the tax.
Visitors arriving at the main train station yesterday were guided by stewards to obtain the QR code to pay the €5 fee, as part of the city’s effort to find a balance between tourists and residents and discourage overcrowding on peak days. Random inspections will check for the QR code with fines of between €50 and €300 for evaders. The tax will be introduced after 2025 should the test phase prove viable.
The entry fee applies from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with exceptions outside those hours, and aims to provide more exact visitor figures to help manage the high tourist influx in Venice.
While some residents question the efficacy of the new system in addressing over-tourism, over 6,000 people have already paid for the QR code, while more than 70,000 have acquired exemptions.
Other cities struggling with mass tourism are watching with interest. The test days set for 2024 are as follows:
- May 11, 12, 18, 19, 19, 25 and 26.
- June 8, 9, 15, 16, 16, 22, 22, 22, 22, 22, 23, 29 and 30.
- July 6, 7, 13 and 14.
The tourist and entry tax to Venice will be payable on the dedicated website https://cda.ve.it/en
