In Venice, the world-famous tourist centre that hosts millions of tourists every year, the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, who announced that they will start the trial of the application this month in line with the decision taken by the City Council in September 2023, said in his presentation at the Foreign Press Association in Rome that the application is an experimental and deterrent idea against excessive tourist density, but does not mean the closure of the city.
Brugnaro emphasised that they have a duty to protect the important historical centres of the world, that the application will be put into effect for the first time on 25 April between 08.30-16.00 hours, that the purpose of the application is not to make money and that the purpose of this is to protect the city, and that there will be no turnstiles in the city for the control of the application, but that controls will be made at some points.
Stating that the application will not limit the free movement and freedom of movement in Venice, Brugnaro stated that there will be no restrictions on entry to Venice and told Tourism FM:
''There is no restriction except for the days stated on the municipality's website as days when we try to host fewer daily guests if possible. Day visitors will pay a fee. Those who come to Venice daily, those who do not stay, i.e. those who come in the morning and leave in the evening, have to pay a contribution. This year the fee will be 5 Euros per person. Children up to 14 years old are exempt. Those staying in hotels in Venice or Mestre, i.e. within the municipality of Venice, will also pay nothing. The first phase of the scheme will start in the spring and will be trialled until the second week of July. These are the spring days when the beaches are not yet full. Many people may want to visit the city on the weekend instead of the beach if Venice is nearby. If they decide to come on those days, they can make a reservation and pay a 5 Euro contribution to gain access.''
Tourists whose day visits to Venice coincide with the 29 designated days will be able to pay the entrance fee by making a reservation on the website called Contributo di Accesso a Venezia (Venice Entrance Fee). Visitors who pay the 5 Euro entrance fee will receive a QR code on their smartphone, which will be used as a pass, and will be required to show this QR code during random checks in the city. Those who do not pay the entrance fee will be fined 50 Euros in addition to the entrance fee if they are detected by local authorities.
Simone Venturini, Councillor for Tourism of the Municipality of Venice, said that they have so far received 151,157 reservations through the online portal, which was launched on 16 January, for the 29 specific days for which an entrance fee will be applied, and that the number of people who have paid the entrance fee is close to 15,000.
