Venice officials have outlined plans for an entrance fee to visit the Italian city in order to combat over-tourism.
From January 16, 2023, visitors will have to pay to enter the city – the first location in the world to require an entrance fee.
The entry ticket will cost between €3 and €10 (£9/$10) and the price will reflect the demand for entrance to the city.
The January launch date was announced by the city’s Councillor for Tourism, Simone Venturini. He explained that it was not a way of closing off the city, but a way to keep Venice as a “living city” and reduce tourist peaks.
Venice’s booking system will be revealed in autumn and there are a number of exceptions to the entrance ticket mandate. Residents and children under the age of six will be exempt, as well as disabled people, homeowners and those who have come to Venice for health reasons or to visit relatives.
There are also exceptions for people arriving in Venice to attend a sporting or cultural event.
Overnight hotel guests will also avoid paying for an entry ticket as they will already be paying a tourist tax through their hotel.
The entrance fee paid by qualifying tourists will go towards lowering taxes of Venetians, and will apply to the Italian city’s historic centre and islands such as Lido di Venezia, Pellestrina, Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, Mazzorbo, Mazzorbetto, Vignole, S. Andrea, La Certosa, S. Servolo, S. Clemente and Poveglia.
Fines for violating the new ticket rules will range from €50 to €300.
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