Venice mayor proposes raising day-tripper entry tax to €50 on peak days to curb overtourism
Simone Venturini, the new mayor of Venice, wants to increase the charge for day visitors from the current €5-10 to as much as €50 on high-traffic dates, arguing it is the only effective tool to manage daily tourist numbers.
The €50 proposal
Newly elected mayor Simone Venturini announced a plan to raise the day-tripper entry fee to €30-50 on the busiest days. The current levy of €5 for advance bookings and €10 for last-minute visitors has not cut visitor numbers, he said. Venturini, a 38-year-old centre-right politician who won the 25 May runoff, promised the hike during his campaign. The local council is drafting a proposal to submit to Rome, seeking permission to charge higher rates when reservation thresholds are exceeded.
Why the current fee is not working
Data from the first 42 days of this year show the €5/€10 split is too small to deter anyone. Of 514,710 contributions collected, 245,503 visitors booked early to pay €5 while 268,207 paid the full €10 last-minute. Budget councillor Michele Zuin admitted the numbers reveal no meaningful difference between the two price points. “The problem is the numbers. There is no significant difference between 5 euros and 10 euros. If the threshold were much higher, the effect would be completely different,” he told Italian media.
- Advance booking (€5)
- 245503 tickets
- Last-minute (€10)
- 268207 tickets
Hoteliers back the increase
The hotel industry supports a much higher ceiling. Daniele Minotto, director of the Venice Hoteliers Association (AVA), called the €50 figure reasonable when compared with admission to major archaeological sites. Zuin stressed that extra revenue would flow back into maintaining the city. In its first year, the existing scheme collected €2.4 million, far exceeding initial forecasts.
Legal and constitutional hurdles
Venturini cannot raise the fee unilaterally. Although the ticket was introduced by municipal regulation, the ceiling was set by national law, so the mayor must negotiate with the government in Rome. Constitutional law expert Ludovico Mazzarolli told Corriere della Sera that a €50 charge could be challenged as a restriction on freedom of movement.
- Venice introduces world's first city entry fee, €5 for 29 peak days
- Fee extended to 54 days; last-minute bookings charged double (€10)
- Programme covers 60 days; first-year revenue reaches €2.4m
How the entry fee evolved
Venice became the first city in the world to charge day-trippers in 2024, applying a €5 fee on 29 peak days between April and July. The following year the programme expanded to 54 days and doubled the price for last-minute bookings. In 2026 the fee covers 60 days, with fines of €50–300 for non-payment. Overnight guests, residents of the Veneto region and children under 14 remain exempt. Despite the levies, the UNESCO-listed city still draws 25–30 million tourists a year.
