Venice starts charging entry fee to control 'hit and run' tourism during peak periods
For the first time, entry tickets to Venice will be required for tourists on April 25, which is Italy's Liberation Day. Tickets will be needed through May 5, marking the end of the popular May holiday weekend.
This is initially an experimental phase of a program aiming to control and limit the mass, previously unregulated inflow of tourists. This behavior, often referred to as "hit and run," occurs when tourists make short visits.
Such tourism has paralyzing effects on Venice on many days of the year due to enormous crowds.
One-day visit to Venice now requires a ticket
The city authorities have announced that an online portal will be operational from Tuesday, January 16, to book visits to the city during its busiest days. Those staying in the city between 2:30 AM and 12 PM Eastern Time will need to purchase a ticket.
Day tourists planning a visit to Venice should be aware that tickets will also be necessary on weekends in May, June, and July.
Residents of the Veneto region, workers, students on school trips, children under 14, disabled individuals, and their caregivers are exempted from the $5.86 fee.
Installation of entry gates has been announced by the authorities
Even those exempt from the fee must register their arrival at http://cda.ve.it to avoid possible future penalties.
The city administration has been developing the admission ticket project since 2018, with delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. City officials have announced that they will conduct inspections in the city and install entry gates near the parking area on Piazzale Roma and the Santa Lucia railway station.
