Venice (TAN): Municipal lawmakers here have officially approved the proposal to impose an entry fee on visitors to the city, media reports said.
It is still unclear when the new rule will come into force but earlier reports had indicated it could happen in May.
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Italy tourism minister Gian Marco Centinaio had earlier said the idea to impose an entry fee on visitors to the world-famous lagoon city was “useless and damaging”.
Reports said the entry fee would range between EUR 3 and EUR 10 depending on the crowd situation in the lagoon. The administration wants visitors to book their tickets in advance.
“It’s the only way to count the number of people visiting Venice,” a report quoted city mayor Luigi Brugnaro as saying. “No one will be denied access, but it will be more complicated for those who don’t book.”
As many as 30 million tourists visit Venice every year.
“Do we want to become a country that repels tourists?” Italy tourism minister Gian Marco Centinaio had tweeted earlier on this context.
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The entry fee amount is unlikely to deter many visitors from cancelling their trip. The funds generated, however, could be used to provide better infrastructure for not only the millions who visit the lagoon every year but also the people who live there.
“The aim is to improve the quality of life for locals,” Brugnaro said.
