Venice becomes first city to charge a daily tourist fee

On Thursday, Venice, Italy became nan first metropolis successful nan world to charge time visitors a fee just to sojourn its historical canals and different attractions connected highest days. 

The measurement is designed to antagonistic over-tourism and mitigate nan deleterious effect ample crowds tin person connected immoderate of nan city's vulnerable sites, while besides persuading immoderate visitors to sojourn during little engaged times of nan year.  

The astir $5.37 interest only applies connected 29 days that are deemed to beryllium nan busiest betwixt April 25, a vacation successful Italy, and July 14, successful a proceedings shape of nan reservation-and-fee system. 

A tourer displays a QR codification utilized to participate nan Venice, Italy connected nan first time of a aviator programme charging visitors a 5 Euro introduction fee. Getty Images

Most group entering nan metropolis must registry and get a QR code, aliases a summons for visitors without smartphones, but immoderate visitors are exempt from paying nan fee. For instance, visitors who walk nan nighttime successful a edifice aliases Airbnb-style accommodation are not taxable to nan nominal tourer fee. Likewise, residents, group calved successful Venice, group visiting relatives who are residents, workers, students and visitors nether nan property of 14 do not person to salary either.

There is nary headdress connected nan number of visitors who whitethorn reserve a sojourn connected a fixed day. 

In a nationalist video, Luigi Brugnaro, nan politician of Venice, called nan caller strategy an "experiment" to protect nan city. 

"We do it pinch awesome humility," he said. In a societal media post, he added that nan rollout was "going well" and "the ambiance is relaxed."

Simone Venturini, nan tourism councilor of Venice, added, "The full world would for illustration to sojourn Venice, and this is an grant for us. But not everyone successful nan world is capable to do truthful connected nan nonstop aforesaid day."

However, immoderate residents protested nan caller argumentation connected Thursday, according to media reports. Some were seen clashing pinch riot police, while others tried to break done a blockade, CNBC reported.

The vulnerable lagoon metropolis has a organization of astir 50,000, a sliver of what it was a mates of generations ago. On its busiest days, it tin tie astir arsenic galore visitors arsenic it has residents.

A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage property, nan metropolis features masterpieces from Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto and others. 

In:
• Italy
• Venice