Venice: Entrance Ticket Payment and Controversy
Since time immemorial, Venice has been a magnet for travelers, a city that captivates with its unique beauty and rich history. However, as of April 25, a new requirement is imposed on visitors: an entrance ticket. This measure, temporary for now, requires the payment of five euros to access the ancient Venetian city between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., on 29 specific dates.
The QR code will be indispensable every day until May 5, only on Saturdays and Sundays until July 14, with the exception of the weekend of June 1-2. This ticket must be purchased by all visitors to Venice on day trips, excluding children under the age of 14. Those who fail to comply with the rule will be subject to fines ranging from 50 to 300 euros.
On the first day of implementation, on April 24, more than 80,000 people were present in the city, but only 7,000, a tenth of that number, purchased the voucher for access to the historic center. All other accesses are carried out by exempt persons, such as citizens of Veneto, workers and students, who must register online but do not have to pay.
This initiative has generated heated debates. Some see it as a useful tool to combat overtourism, while others see it as a restriction on the freedom to visit the city. The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, defends the measure as a way to alleviate the negative impact of mass tourism in the city, although he admits that, initially, the costs may outweigh the revenues.
However, critics such as Massimo Cacciari, a former mayor of Venice, consider the measure absurd and unconstitutional. For them, charging a tax to enter the city is an affront to their history and to the very idea of freedom of movement.
Meanwhile, the hotel industry sees the ticket as a positive step towards regulating tourist flows and ensuring a more sustainable experience for all. However, practical challenges arise on how to effectively enforce this measure, especially in a city like Venice, where tourists arrive by different means of transport.
Regardless of differing opinions, the Venice admission ticket experiment continues to generate controversy as the city tries to strike a delicate balance between cultural preservation, sustainability and tourist revenues. The outcome of these tests will determine the future of this initiative and its impact on one of the world’s most iconic cities.
Tickets to Enter Venice: Who and How to Pay, Costs and Exemptions
The countdown has begun for the implementation of the paid ticket that allows access to Venice, the city-museum. From April 25, the much-debated measure comes into force, with the stated aim of controlling the tourist flow and protecting the historic center, often flooded by a tide of individual visitors and groups.
However, behind this initiative, not so subtly, is the search for profit, with the introduction of an initial fee of five euros per day, intended to compensate for the costs that Venice incurs in services, starting with waste management.
This economic motivation was explicitly admitted by the Tax Advisor, Michele Zuin. Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santánchez, disagrees: “Raising taxes doesn’t solve problems. The entrance ticket to Venice is not my vision. The tourist tax needs to be reviewed, and Parliament is dealing with it.”
Protests have already begun, with anti-ticket groups gathering in Piazzale Roma. There are concerns about the constitutionality of the measure and debates about the real purpose behind it. However, city officials and police are preparing to face any riots that may arise.
Let’s understand how the ticket payment system will work to enter Venice:
Venice, one of the most iconic and romantic cities in the world, has long faced the challenge of overtourism, which threatens its beauty and authenticity. In response to this challenge, the city decided to implement a controversial measure: an access ticket.
The Purpose: The access ticket to Venice was made possible by the 2019 Budget Law, updated in 2021, with the clear objective of defining a new system for managing tourist flows. The purpose is to discourage daily tourism in Venice at certain times, in order to protect the city and ensure a more authentic experience for visitors.
The Calendar: In 2024, the contribution will only be requested for 29 specific days, spread throughout the year.
The days of 2024 on which the payment of the ticket to enter Venice is scheduled are as follows: from April 25 to 30; from May 1 to 5; May 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26; June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30; July 6, 7, 13 and 14.
These dates have been carefully selected to minimize the impact on visitors and ensure that the measure is effective in managing the tourist flow.
The Hours: It is important to note that the fee does not apply from 4 pm to 8:30 am the next day. This allows visitors to enjoy the city at night without incurring the access fee.
The Tribute: The value for 2024 is 5 euros per day, with no reductions. There is no identification of an attendance threshold beyond which an increase in the access fee will be applied, although this may be discussed in the future.
The Areas: The contribution will only apply to the Old Town of Venice, excluding other areas such as the mainland of Venice and smaller islands. This is part of an effort to ensure that the measure focuses where the impact of tourism is most felt.
The Collection: The collection of the fee will be done through a multi-channel and multilingual platform, created by Venis Spa. Visitors can get the title (QR Code) required for access through an app by accessing which. This title attests to the payment of the fee or the exclusion/exemption condition and must be kept with the visitor during the visit.
The Sanctions: Those who do not pay the access fee will be subject to administrative fines ranging from 50 to 300 euros, in addition to the 10 euros of the access fee.
Who Should Pay: The access fee must be paid by any natural person, over the age of 14, accessing the Old Town of Venice, unless they fall into the categories of exclusions and exemptions.
Who Is Exempt: Residents of the Municipality of Venice, workers, students, and other specific categories are exempt from the access fee. There are a number of criteria that determine who is exempt, aimed at ensuring that the measure does not harm local residents.
Access to the City: Physical gates have been installed at key access points to the city, with priority gates for residents and workers. The Municipality’s inspectors will check the QR Code of the visitors and will be available to help anyone who needs it.
No Internet: For those who do not have internet access, it is possible to pay the fee at Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia station.
You Pay for Funeral and Wedding: Those going to Venice for a funeral or wedding must pay the access fee unless they are exempt.
In short, the access ticket is Venice’s attempt to balance the needs of visitors with the preservation of the city. It’s a controversial move, but many believe it’s necessary to protect the future of this unique and precious city.
