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New tourist tax in Italy could cost you £257 for one day

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date25 April 2024
Publication titleMyLondon (England)
Some 200 stewards have been trained to politely walk anyone unaware of the five euro £4.28 fee through the process of downloading a QR code. A kiosk has been set up for those not equipped with a smartphone

Once past designated entry ports, officials will carry out random checks for QR codes that show the day-tripper tax has been paid or that the bearer is exempt. Transgressors face fines of 50-300 euros £53-£257. The requirement applies only for people arriving between 8.30am and 4pm. Outside of those hours, access is free.

“We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents,” said the city’s top tourism official, Simone Venturini. We need to safeguard the spaces of the residents, of course, and we need to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.”

Venice has long suffered under the pressure of over-tourism, but officials say that pre-pandemic estimates ranging from 25 million to 30 million visitors a year — including day-trippers — are not reliable and that the pilot project also aims to come up with more exact figures to help better manage the phenomenon.

By contrast, registered visitors spending the night last year numbered 4.6 million, according to city figures, down 16% from pre-pandemic highs. Mr Venturini said the city is strained when the number of day-trippers reaches 30,000 to 40,000. Its narrow alleyways are clogged with people and water taxis packed, making it difficult for residents to go about their business.

Not all residents, however, are persuaded of the efficacy of the new system in dissuading mass tourism, and say more attention needs to be paid to...

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