Venice to charge entrance fees in effort to curb tourism influx
Venice is experiencing an influx of tourists during the carnival. The streets and bridges are crowded, and many visitors find themselves caught in traffic while trying to reach events such as the boat parade on the Grand Canal.
Venetian authorities plan to introduce an entrance fee to Venice to limit the influx of tourists. From mid-April to the end of July, on Fridays, weekends, and holidays, visitors must pay 5 euros (approximately $7 CAD) if they book their visit in advance or 10 euros (approximately $14 CAD) for a last-minute entry ticket.
Crowds in Venice before introducing fees
Not everyone must pay to enter the city. Exemptions include children under 14, students, people working in the city, those visiting family, and tourists staying in hotels in Venice.
The fee aims to help control tourism and reduce the influx of so-called "day-trippers."
Videos published on social media show the streets of Venice in recent days. "I experienced this today... never again," commented one TikTok user, quoted by the New York Post. Others add that the carnival is a "fight for survival."
Not only Venice has a problem with tourists
It's not only Venice that is struggling with an excess of tourists. In Malaga, Spain, a ban has been introduced on opening new tourist rental properties in 43 districts, and Barcelona plans to remove 10,000 short-term rental apartments from the market.
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