The city of Venice launched a new entry fee for tourists, which took effect on April 25. In the first 11 days of implementing the new tax, the Italian city collected about 977,430 euros from the sale of 195,000 tickets. However, this amount is less than the cost of implementing the reservation system, media campaigns, and ticket verification, which is estimated at 3 million euros.
This measure, which is initially in the pilot phase, will be applied to 29 specific days during the months of May, June and July, including weekends and official holidays.
The new fees, aimed at reducing overcrowding caused by day tourists, are being defended as a way to increase the economic benefits that night-time visitors bring to the city. However, many residents have criticized the measure, claiming that it is ineffective in controlling visitor numbers and does not address more important issues such as the housing crisis.
Giovanni Andrea Martini, advisor to the municipal group All City Together, described the measure as a failure. According to him, the tax did not reduce the number of tourists, and in some cases, the number of visitors increased compared to previous years, Euronews revealed.
Some news sites posted ways to avoid the new fees. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that fans of the Venice football team can watch the matches without paying fees. In addition, visitors who are invited by local residents and who present the token are exempt from this fee. Activists even created a website to make it easier for friends and tourists to share the codes.
After the trial period, fees could increase to €10 per day, with fines of up to €300 for anyone trying to visit the city without a ticket. The effectiveness of this measure will continue to be evaluated, but criticism suggests that significant modifications may be necessary to achieve the desired goals.
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