Venice is contemplating increasing its entrance fee for next year. — Pixabay
Visitors to Venice in Italy must pay a fee on more days than the levy is currently charged, as the city of canals seeks to curtail the negative aspects of mass tourism.
Italian officials plan to charge day visitors in the period between early April and late July 2026, as the controversial regulation enters its third season.
This year, visitors paid between €5 (RM24.70) and €10 (RM49.40) on certain dates if they wanted to spend a few hours during the day in the alleys around Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) and the Rialto Bridge.
The city has not yet disclosed what the future entrance fee will be, but it is suspected to be higher.
The next season begins on April 3, 2026, with the last payment date on July 26.
This year, more than 720,000 day visitors registered, bringing the city approximately €5.4mil (RM26.68mil). However, many managed to evade the fee.
Officially, the regulation is still in a test phase.
The fee is intended to help better manage mass tourism in the city with its many unique sights.
In the first year, it was charged on 29 days, then on 54. Next year, visitors will be asked to pay on 60 days.
Critics say the fee does not deter many from coming to Venice as the city is already expensive – with a cup of cappuccino on St Mark’s Square costing up to €17 (RM84).
The northern Italian city is home to 50,000 people, fewer than the number of hotel beds in the city.
Hotel guests who stay longer in the city are exempt from the day fee, but they must pay an overnight tax. – dpa
