Starting Friday, Venice implements a five-euro entrance fee for day visitors, effectively doubling the number of fee-enforced days this year to combat "eat and flee" tourism that often harms the local economy.
Venice Reinstates Entrance Fee to Curb Day Tourism
Venice Reinstates Entrance Fee to Curb Day Tourism
The historic city of Venice has reintroduced an entrance fee aimed at mitigating the impact of short-term tourists on its delicate ecosystem.
Article Text:
Venice, the enchanting city renowned for its labyrinthine canals and breathtaking architecture, is once again taking measures to protect its cultural heritage from the influx of casual tourists. As part of its ongoing effort to manage day tourism effectively, the city has reinstated an entrance fee that began on Friday.
This fee, which costs five euros for day trippers, has a tiered structure; spontaneous visitors who wait until the last moment to obtain their permits will incur a fee of ten euros. City officials have ramped up the days this fee is enforced from 30 in 2024 to an impressive 54 in 2025. The initiative aims to tackle what locals refer to as “eat and flee tourism,” a term that encapsulates tourists who visit major landmarks, consume meals hastily packed from outside, leave behind their litter and fail to contribute meaningfully to the local economy.
Simone Venturini, the city’s municipal councilor overseeing tourism, expressed the belief that this fee serves not just as a financial tool but also an educational one. Venturini emphasized the message that “Venice is unique and fragile,” underlining the necessity for all tourists to approach their visits with respect and mindfulness of the city’s vulnerabilities.
The city has already taken various steps to manage the pressures of mass tourism, including banning large cruise ships from its lagoon and taking proactive measures to oversee influx patterns. By reinforcing such entry fees and promoting responsible tourism habits, Venice hopes to ensure a sustainable relationship between its rich heritage and the visitors that come to marvel at it.
Venice, the enchanting city renowned for its labyrinthine canals and breathtaking architecture, is once again taking measures to protect its cultural heritage from the influx of casual tourists. As part of its ongoing effort to manage day tourism effectively, the city has reinstated an entrance fee that began on Friday.
This fee, which costs five euros for day trippers, has a tiered structure; spontaneous visitors who wait until the last moment to obtain their permits will incur a fee of ten euros. City officials have ramped up the days this fee is enforced from 30 in 2024 to an impressive 54 in 2025. The initiative aims to tackle what locals refer to as “eat and flee tourism,” a term that encapsulates tourists who visit major landmarks, consume meals hastily packed from outside, leave behind their litter and fail to contribute meaningfully to the local economy.
Simone Venturini, the city’s municipal councilor overseeing tourism, expressed the belief that this fee serves not just as a financial tool but also an educational one. Venturini emphasized the message that “Venice is unique and fragile,” underlining the necessity for all tourists to approach their visits with respect and mindfulness of the city’s vulnerabilities.
The city has already taken various steps to manage the pressures of mass tourism, including banning large cruise ships from its lagoon and taking proactive measures to oversee influx patterns. By reinforcing such entry fees and promoting responsible tourism habits, Venice hopes to ensure a sustainable relationship between its rich heritage and the visitors that come to marvel at it.
