Tourists entering Italy’s popular lagoon city of Venice for a single-day trip may have to begin paying an entry fee of US$3.43 starting in May.
The fee could increase to 6 euros in the coming year and can be raised to as much as 10 euros on heavy tourism days, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has said.
Visitors staying in hostels are exempt from the payment. Hotel guests already have to pay a local tax for the stay.
“We’re not interested in making cash,” Brugnaro said. The goal is to help pay for maintenance and cleanliness in the historic city, he said. Struggling under massive tourist numbers, Venice has already been pushing measures to decrease litter left by tourists.
Authorities in the beloved tourist destination are putting a stop to new takeaway food shops opening in the historic city centre over the next three years.
Venice’s picturesque centre has increasingly been struggling to cope with its vast numbers of tourists, which often leave rubbish behind after eating in public. Takeaways are also leading to Venice’s narrow streets being blocked by snacking tourists, authorities say.
Instead, the city wants existing takeaway shops to improve their offerings and also provide toilets. The measure still needs to be approved by the city council.
“We have to tell the whole world how difficult it is to administer such a special place,” Brugnaro said. His plans still have to be approved by the local council before becoming policy. – dpa
