Venice, with its renowned canals and rich architectural, historical, and cultural heritage, was once a major hub for international trade, earning it the nicknames "Queen of the Adriatic," "Floating City," and "City of Bridges." This fame attracts countless tourists from around the world, yet it also places immense pressure on this exquisite historic city.
In order to control the number of tourists, the Venetian government has decided to impose a new tax, hoping it will help guide the city towards a more sustainable tourism model.
Day trippers arriving and departing Venice on the same day will be most affected. Starting in 2023, visitors will be required to book and pay in advance through a dedicated app. The fee is expected to be €3 in the off-season and up to €10 in the peak season.
Visitors who have already booked overnight accommodation in Venice will not be charged this fee. This is because Venice has been collecting a city tax of several euros on overnight visitors since 2011. Many European countries have similar tourist taxes, but they are often included in hotel or airfare prices, making them less noticeable.
Venice residents, students and commuters are also exempt from the new tourist tax. Visitors visiting relatives or attending funerals are also exempt from the fee.
Say no to "fast food" tourists and shift towards sustainable tourism
With the rise of sustainability awareness, more and more cities are seeking to shift towards a tourism model that prioritizes quality over quantity. Authorities are increasingly realizing that large numbers of tourists who simply drop in for a quick selfie and then leave are doing more harm than good to the city. They hope to attract more immersive travelers who genuinely care about the local culture and are willing to spend time learning about it.
This tourism transformation is even more urgent for Venice. Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, a threat already posed to Venice, nestled within the lagoon. These include flooding caused by high tides, which frequently submerges precious historical monuments. Only in the summer of 2021 did Venice finally succeed in banning large cruise ships from entering the city center.
If a large number of tourists brings greater pollution, Venice will really be unable to cope. During the peak season, Venice needs to handle more than 100,000 tourists every day, while the old town has only about 50,000 residents.
In fact, the authorities are not sure how many people visit Venice every day, as up to 90% of them may be day tourists, and many popular attractions in the city center, such as St. Mark's Square, are free, making it difficult to count accurately.
Most of these day-trip tourists come from nearby areas by boat or bus, not only do they not bring much economic benefits to the city, but they also leave a lot of garbage. Local residents have long wanted to strengthen the control of tourists.
Venice city councilor Simone Venturini explained that the introduction of the new tourist tax was to protect Venice because the fragile city was not suitable for "fast-food" tourists.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/234758)
