An Italian hotspot in a war against tourists has been left humiliated after strict measures failed to deter visitors arriving in their masses.
Venice conducted a summer trail between April – June this year which saw day-trippers paying an entrance fee during peak days of €5 (£4.20) and was introduced to manage tourist influx during high-traffic periods.
The levy did not apply to hotel guests, who already pay a lodging tax, and included exemptions for children under 14, regional residents, students, workers, and people visiting relatives.
It was hoped the trial would discourage arrivals in a city where locals say is becoming impossible to live in.
However, the trial has faced backlash with locals and politicians saying the fee has failed to make a difference.
Giovanni Andrea Martini, city councillor of the opposition party Tutta la Città Insieme, believes “the fee has not made a dent in the number of tourists”.
He the I: “After the years of Covid, tourism in Venice has undergone a huge increase, exceeding the threshold reached in 2019.
“The consequences for Venetian residents are very serious.
“On the contrary, we have the number of entrances that are higher by more than 10,000 tourists on average per day compared to last year.
“As a system of flow management, the entrance ticket has been a real failure.”
During the first 11 days of the trial, an average of 75,000 visitors were recorded daily – 10,000 more than during similar holidays in 2023, according to cell phone data tracking city arrivals.
While, over 29 days during the summer, the city said the €5 (£4.20) tax was paid 485,062 times, generating around €2.4m (£2m).
Tourist rentals occupy more than 30 percent of available apartments, according to Mr Martini who believes it is “necessary to intervene to reduce tourist apartments through heavy taxation” and that tourist rentals should not exceed 10 percent of the apartments in the entire city.
Everything has changed,” for residents because of overtourism, says Camilla Feiffer, a tourist guide with Intrepid Urban Adventure who was born and raised in Venice. “There are no more houses for people who want to live here.”
Authorities have introduced further measures including a ban on tourist groups of more than 25 people, as well as on loudspeakers – with those breaking the rules fined between €25 and €500 (£21-£422), however, many went futher action.
Some officials have suggested the tax should be extended next year and doubled to €10, at least on some days.
Tourism Councillor Simone Venturin believes Venice is “still too cheap” and speaking at a meeting about the 2025 Jubilee, he said: “We are considering a higher access fee to curb excessive tourism.”
No immediate announcements have been made as of yet but a final decision on how to proceed will be made in the autumn, following a full analysis of the data.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the city would consider adjusting the fee if it was paid in advance or not.