Venice is a beautiful city known for its stunning architecture, winding canals, and charming bridges connecting its islands. It is frequented by over 30 million visitors each year, a large number of them being daytrippers.
The city has much to offer, so it’s no surprise that tourists add Venice to the top of their travel list. However, this poses some problems for Venice’s ecosystem and economy, so the government recently imposed a tourist tax for daytrippers.
If you’re considering visiting Venice or simply want to know what all the fuss is about the new city tourist tax, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll unpack what this tourist tax is, who’s affected by it, and how it impacts both overtourism and the economy.
What is the Venice Tourist Tax?
The Venice tourist tax was implemented on April 25, 2024. It is being trialed for 29 days during peak days in April, May, June, and July this year. If it goes well, the government may enforce this tourist tax permanently.
Venice officials enforce this by scanning a QR code that must be downloaded before entering the city. The Venice visitor tax is in force from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., meaning travelers can enter for free in the evening.
This tax has been implemented to preserve the city’s incredible yet fragile heritage and alleviate the strain of overtourism. Venice narrowly escaped being put on UNESCO’s danger list due to damage from overcrowding, which is quite concerning.
How Much is the Tourist Tax in Venice, Italy?
The Venice daily tourist tax is €5 for daytrippers. However, many people are exempt from paying, including longer-term visitors, those with family in the region, and anyone under 14.
If you don’t pay the Venice city tourist tax, you may be subject to a fine of €50 to €300, plus the fee for the tourist tax itself, which can be up to 10 euros.
Who Has to Pay the Venice Tourist Tax?
Daytrippers, or those who visit Venice only for the day, must pay the tourist tax during the peak days of the trial period. This does not apply to those who have booked accommodation and are staying in the city overnight.
Venice Tourist Tax Exemptions
The following people are exempt from paying the Venice tourist tax, but they still must register their trip online:
- Visitors with accommodation booked for one night or more
- Students
- Residents
- Commuters
- Children under 14
- Those with family in the region
- Those with a second home in Venice
- Those traveling directly to the smaller islands like Murano and Burano
You can see the full details and exemptions here.
Concerns About the Venice Tourist Tax
The Venice tourist tax has received a lot of backlash from locals, and rightly so. Venice makes most of its money from tourism, and if this tax deters people from visiting, locals may struggle to make ends meet.
Matteo Secchi, the leader of an activist group, claims that almost the entire city is against it. He said it gives Venice a bad image and that they are “transforming it into a theme park.”
The former mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, even urged tourists not to pay, as they are already overcharged for transportation and food in the city.
Residents are also concerned that the government has not explicitly stated where this money will go. Will they repair crumbling houses? Will they make the city a more liveable place for the declining population that still lives there?
None of it is clear.
Venice Tourist Tax vs Other City Taxes
Tourist taxes aren’t a new idea. They’ve been around for years, from most US hotels issuing a tax to many European cities like Barcelona and Lisbon having a city tourist tax that is added to your accommodation cost.
However, Venice’s tourist tax has caused much outrage among residents and tourists alike, which is quite unusual–signaling that something may be wrong.
View the list of cities that impose city tax on visitors.
The Impact of Overtourism In Venice
Overtourism has been a pressing issue in Venice for years. Over 20 million visitors frequent Venice each year and more than two-thirds of them come just for the day.
With so many tourists in such a small space, Venice’s fragile buildings are being damaged. Most people who visit the city tend to stick to the most iconic landmarks, like St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, causing overcrowding.
This is not only frustrating for visitors, but residents, too. It’s difficult for them to go about their daily lives with such a large amount of people crowding the city.
Due to the number of gondolas being used for transportation and as a main tourist attraction, there has been an increase in waves, increasing erosion on the already aging buildings in the city.
Property prices in Venice are sky-high, with many property managers converting homes into Airbnbs or hotels for visitors. Day trippers and people who only stay for a night or two are driving up the already insane cost of housing.
The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which narrowly escaped being put on the danger list. Venice was at risk of not putting in sufficient effort to preserve the city. It was clear that something had to change, fast. Thus, the introduction of the tourist tax was born.
Why This Tourist Tax is Failing
Seventy thousand people traveled to Venice on May 19, 2024, five thousand more than at the same time last year. The numbers show that tourism is in line with or even higher than last year’s, making it clear that visitors are not deterred by this small €5 fee.
In the first 11 days of the tourist tax scheme, Venice has collected about one million euros. This number may seem like a lot, but it does not seem to be stopping daytrippers from visiting.
The entire project had cost the city €3 million, from setting up the booking system to creating campaigns surrounding it and paying officers to enforce the checks.
If Venice continues to collect as little money as it did in the first 11 days, it may not even be able to cover the costs of setting up the program, making the entire thing a resounding failure.
Is the Venice Tourist Tax Actually a Good Thing?
If we look at it on the flip side, the tourist fee in Venice may actually be a good thing. Residents will not have to put their own money towards keeping the city liveable; rather, day-trippers will help cover the costs.
From mayor Luigi Brugnaro, the tourist tax is an attempt to make Venice a more liveable city. He hopes it will incentivize visitors to travel on less busy days and during the off-peak season.
This tourist tax will hopefully allow a balance in the numbers between residents and tourists.
According to Brugnaro, it is not a way for the city to make extra money. Instead, it will be used towards repair and upkeep of the city, including the following:
- The household waste service
- Maintaining the city’s heritage
- Maintenance of docks, banks, and bridges
- Maintenance and repairs of the pavers covering the city
However, residents will need more than just his word to believe in the benefits of this tourist tax scheme.
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What do you think about Venice’s tourist tax? Is it a good idea, or do you side with the residents?