VENICE: For the first time, visitors exploring Italian city of Venice have to pay a $5.30 entry fee ticket, at key points of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mayor of Venice on Thursday, launching smooth trial of the entry fees for day visitors, said tourism in the historic Italian city had to change.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said 15,700 people purchased tickets on Thursday, and throughout 2024 the entry fee will be charged as part of a trial.
He added that currently, the trial of the project was costing more than the entry fees were bringing in, terming it a worthy investment.
In a statement, he said people must understand that we need to change.
Venice considered one of the most beautiful cities on Earth, is a top tourist destination but is being affected by the large number of visitors.
No limit on number of tickets: Mayor
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said there is no limit on the number of tickets adding the goal of such initiative is to persuade day-trippers to choose other times.
According to officials about 113,000 people registered to enter the world’s most popular tourist attraction on Thursday. The figure includes 40,000 overnight visitors, 13,000 students, and 20,000 workers.
However, residents of the city don’t need to pay the fee and they just need to show their identity documents.
Those tourists visiting the city without tickets may face fines of 50 to 300 euros.
The Italian authorities also banned cruise ships in Venice in 2021, rerouting them to a more distant industrial port.
The Italian government took the step as UNESCO last year threatened to put Venice on its list of heritage in danger.
