VENICE EXTENDS PERIOD FOR CHARGING ENTRY FEES

ROME, OCTOBER 16 /SRNA/ - The Venice city authorities have announced that, starting next year, the period during which entry fees are charged to access one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions will be extended.

Under the decision, day-trippers will have to pay a fee of up to EUR 10 on a total of 72 selected dates between March 26 and mid-August. This year, entry fees were charged on 60 days.

City officials have so far refrained from a sharp increase in prices, although there had previously been discussion of an entry fee of EUR 30 or more, the DPA news agency reported.

In April 2024, Venice became the first city in the world to introduce an entry fee for day-trippers.

This year, those who booked at least three days in advance could still pay EUR 5 per day. Anyone who waited until later had to pay EUR 10.

More than 650,000 visitors paid the entry fee this year, generating more than EUR 5 million in revenue for the city.

Visitors staying overnight are exempt from the entry fee but must pay a tourist tax. Exemptions also apply to certain groups.

The city authorities have repeatedly stressed that the measure is not intended to generate revenue, but rather to improve the management of visitor flows.