More than 20 million day visitors descend on Venice every year. A few quick photos, provisions while standing, then off again. The rubbish remains. Too much for Bella Venezia. From January 2023, you need a ticket for Venice...
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Anyone who wants to visit Venice's islands from 16 January 2023 will need a ticket (which can be ordered online). Demand determines the daily price: the fee is between three and ten euros per person - depending on how many reservations there are already on the day.
How the online system works
Venice wants to test the system and prepare guests for it by January. Those who book online in future will save money. From September, for example, prices for water buses, the vaporetti and museums will increase - unless you book online in advance. The city remains open, but the occupancy rate should be improved, the administration said.
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Venice already monitors the movements of the masses via the "Control Room", through the anonymous evaluation of mobile phone data, surveillance cameras and counting devices on bridges. With the entrance ticket, Venice is to be better controlled.
For only 50,0000 locals in the old town of Venice, there were about 22 million day visitors per year before the pandemic, plus 6 million overnight visitors. 560 guests per Resident! It is doubly difficult that the day visitors usually don't leave much money, but they do leave their rubbish.
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Optimal: minus 30 percent guests
A study by the "Università Ca' Foscari" shows that Venice could earn more money with significantly fewer guests - if they are the "right" guests: Ideally, there should be 19 instead of 28 million tourists per year. The share of day visitors would have to be drop to less than a third. Currently, they account for about 75 per cent of the visitor flow.
Three locals move out of Venice every day. More and more living space is being used for hotels or holiday flats, rents are becoming unaffordable for normal earners. Instead of supermarkets, there are souvenir shops. The ticket for Venice is meant to normalise the relationship between residents and guests somewhat.
Holidaymakers staying overnight in Venice are exempt from these regulations. Also: locals, their relatives, commuters, students and small children.
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Anyone caught without a ticket faces a fine of between 50 and 300 euros.
Originally, the local government had already envisaged a ticket for Venice in 2019. The car park operators resisted at the time. Then came Corona. Now tourism is back. The city council still has to approve the administration's measures.
Travel tips for Venice
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- Find your accommodation in and around Venice: Hotel, guesthouse or hostel?
- Do you want your own four walls in Venice: City flat in the middle of town or would you prefer a cottage outside?
- Inspiration for excursions or sightseeing programme:
- Mobile on site: Do you need a rental car for excursions from Venice?
- On the way by bus & train: Get cheap bus and train tickets for trips from Venice here.
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written by Annie Kayser, first published on 5 July 2022
Sources: own research; spiegel.de/Claus Hecking: Overcrowded lagoon city - Venice wants to charge entrance fees to tourists; ZDF heute.de: Day tourists must pay: Venice to charge entrance fee from 2023
