Venice will charge tourists €10 and get them to book a timeslot to enter city centre under new plans to control influx of visitors
- Venice one of world’s most popular destinations, rules been debated for years
- But visitors may have to reserve access in advance and turnstiles introduced
- Move is controversial as city councillor said it will turn Venice into a ‘theme park,’
Venice is planning to change rules for visitors by 2022, including charging for access and setting entrance quotas.
The Italian city is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and measures to control the influx of tourists has been debated for years.
But according to Italian newspaper Stampa, visitors may have to reserve access in advance and there could be turnstiles installed at the main access points of the city’s historical centre.
The Italian city is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and measures to control the influx of tourists has been debated for years
Visitors may have to reserve access in advance and there could be turnstiles installed at the main access points
The move has proved to be controversial as city councillor Marco Gasparinetti said it will turn Venice into a ‘theme park,’ according to the newspaper.
According to Bloomberg, entry into Venice could cost 3 euros (£2.58), to 10 euros (£8.59), depending on the season and time of day.
But locals, relatives of residents, and tourists who have a Venice hotel will be exempt from the entry fee.
It comes after Italy had banned mammoth cruise ships from departing from Venice at the beginning of this month.
It applies to the lagoon basin near St. Mark’s Square and the Giudecca Canal, a major marine artery in Venice.
It comes after Italy had banned mammoth cruise ships from departing from Venice at the beginning of this month
Environmentalists and cultural heritage have battled for decades with business interests since the cruise industry is a major source of revenue for the cit
According to Bloomberg , entry into Venice could cost 3 euros (£.58), to 10 euros (£8.59), depending on the season and time of day
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the government decided to act fast ‘to avoid the concrete risk’ that the UN culture agency Unesco would add Venice to its list of ‘world heritage in danger’.
Before the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed international travel, cruise ships discharging thousands of day-trippers overwhelmed Venice and its delicate marine environment.
Environmentalists and cultural heritage have battled for decades with business interests since the cruise industry is a major source of revenue for the city.
Unesco recommended last month placing Venice on the agency’s list of World Heritage in Danger sites.