by InTrieste
Venice’s newly elected mayor, Simone Venturini, has proposed raising the city’s controversial day-tripper entry fee to as much as €50 on the busiest days in an effort to curb overtourism and secure additional resources for the lagoon city’s upkeep.
The proposal surfaced during a visit by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who was in Venice alongside Felipe VI and António José Seguro for the 19th Cotec Foundation symposium on artificial intelligence at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini.
During a brief walk to the Doge’s Palace, Venturini raised the issue of refinancing Venice’s special law, a funding mechanism that helps maintain the historic city. He said he would seek a meeting with the national government in Rome, noting that decisions on funding and the entry fee fall primarily within the government’s authority.
Venice introduced the world’s first tourist access fee in 2024 as a tool to manage visitor numbers. The charge currently ranges from €5 to €10, depending on when visitors book, and applies to day-trippers aged 14 and older while exempting residents and overnight guests. Venturini suggested that the fee could rise from the current maximum of €30 to €50 on peak days to further discourage overcrowding.
The system has divided opinion. Critics argue it does little to reduce congestion and risks turning Venice into a tourist attraction rather than a living city. Supporters, including UNESCO, have described it as a useful measure for protecting the fragile lagoon environment.
Venturini, 38, took office in May after winning the mayoral election in the first round with 51 percent of the vote. A lawyer who previously served as Venice’s tourism and economic development councilor, he succeeded former mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who was barred from seeking another term by term limits.
