Venetians Protest New Tourist Fee Aimed at Curbing Overcrowding, Clashes with Riot Police

Hundreds of Venetians took to the streets on Thursday to protest against a new tourist entry ticket aimed at reducing overcrowding in the sinking UNESCO world heritage city. The 5-euro charge, introduced on the same day, is part of a series of measures implemented by Italian authorities to manage the influx of tourists in Venice, which received around 20 million visitors last year, dwarfing the resident population of 49,000.

The protesters marched through the city's main bus terminal, briefly scuffling with police before entering Venice over another bridge. They argued that the fee would do nothing to stop overtourism and that it was turning Venice into a "museum" and "theme park." "Venice is not a theme park, it is a city, and it should be treated as such," said one of the protesters.

While the charge exempts residents, students, workers, and those with hotel reservations, as well as visitors under 14, critics argued that it would deprive low-budget tourists of the opportunity to enjoy the city. The move comes after UNESCO threatened to put Venice on its list of heritage sites in danger due to mass tourism and rising water levels in the lagoon.

Authorities have set up checkpoints at the city's main access points, with day-trippers facing fines of over $300 for failing to pay the fee. On the first day, only 15,700 out of 113,000 visitors paid the entrance fee, while 40,000 were hotel guests and 20,000 were commuters or students. The council conducted inspections on the credentials of nearly 14,000 individuals.

Why this matters: Venice's struggle with overtourism highlights the challenges faced by popular destinations worldwide in balancing the economic benefits of tourism with the need to preserve local heritage and quality of life. The effectiveness of the new tourist fee in managing visitor numbers and its impact on Venice's economy and social fabric will be closely watched by other cities grappling with similar issues.

The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has defended the measure as necessary to improve the quality of life for residents and respect for the city's rules. However, many locals believe that the relatively cheap entry fee will do little to deter visitors and that policies to support local residents, such as limiting Airbnb rentals, are needed instead. The experiment will be evaluated after the trial period to determine if any improvements are needed, as Venice becomes the first city in the world to introduce such a tourist tax.

Key Takeaways

• Venice introduced a 5-euro tourist entry fee to tackle overcrowding.
• Protesters argue the fee won't stop overtourism and turns Venice into a "theme park".
• The fee exempts residents, students, workers, and visitors under 14.
• On the first day, only 15,700 out of 113,000 visitors paid the fee.
• The experiment will be evaluated to determine if improvements are needed.