Venice Finalizes Plan For Day-Tripper Fee

S​tarting in April, the Italian tourist mecca of Venice will invoke a first-of-its kind entrance fee for visitors.

D​ay-trippers will pay 5 Euros, or about $5.45 each at current exchange rates. The charge will apply to tourists over the age of 14.

The pilot program is rolling out only on certain days between April 24 to July 14. That includes every day from April 25 to May 5, and most weekends through the rest of the trial period, according to a news release from the city. The "contribution" will be required for those entering Venice between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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City officials say no other city in the world has implemented this kind of entrance fee plan. The idea is to ease congestion on Venice’s busiest days and help protect the UNESCO World Heritage site from over-tourism.

“It is not a revolution, but the first step of a path that regulates the access of daily visitors," Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said.

A​nyone caught trying to enter the city without paying a fee during the required days and times will be subject to a fine of up to 300 Euros, or about $325.

V​enice, famous for its canals and architecture, dates back to the fifth century. The city and more than 100 smaller islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

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O​fficials starting looking at ways to ease tourism several years ago, and those efforts picked up speed as the COVID-19 pandemic waned and visitor numbers surged.

U​NESCO, a branch of the United Nations, considered placing Venice on its list of endangered sites last year. Besides the impact of an estimated 20 million tourists per year, the city is especially vulnerable to the impacts of flooding and rising sea levels.

Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.

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