In recent years, Venice has faced an increasing challenge: managing a relentless influx of tourists that threatens to overwhelm the city.
To address this issue, a new measure was introduced in 2024, the Access Contribution, commonly known as the entry ticket.
This entails a five-euro fee for all day visitors who are not residents of Veneto and are over 14 years old.
The record Venice ticket in one month: The experiment and initial results
The ticket experiment began on April 25 and will end on July 14. In the first 17 days, about 296,000 people paid the contribution, generating almost 1.5 million euros in revenue, already reaching the forecast for the entire year 2024.
However, the ticket does not seem to have had the desired deterrent effect: Venice continues to attract crowds of tourists, without a significant decrease in entries.
The record Venice ticket in one month: Collection challenges
Despite the economic success, collecting the ticket presents several challenges. Controls are carried out randomly, and the city cannot be closed with turnstiles, as confirmed by Mayor Luigi Brugnaro.
Control points are located at strategic places such as the train station and the car terminal, with about 10,000 checks conducted daily by local police and stewards.
However, the numerous exemptions complicate the system: residents, commuters, students, and other categories are exempt but still need to register for the visit.
The record Venice ticket in one month: Reactions and controversies
Mayor Brugnaro noted a positive response from visitors, who often proudly display the payment Qr code, understanding the importance of the contribution to the city.
However, there have been protests from residents who see the measure as a restriction on freedom of movement.
Brugnaro responded by highlighting that the same people who complain about the fee often demand a closed number of visitors to avoid overcrowding.
The record Venice ticket in one month: Effectiveness of the access Ticket
The real question remains the effectiveness of the ticket in regulating tourist flows. At the moment, it seems that a five or ten euro fee is not enough to deter day visitors.
Exemptions for Veneto residents and hotel guests reduce the ticket's impact. Additionally, control points are open after 4 p.m., allowing free access in the evening hours when the city is often invaded by tourists for events such as bachelor parties and pub crawls.
The record Venice ticket in one month: The future of tourist management in Venice
The ongoing experiment will help identify further measures to control tourist flows.
The city may need to adopt new strategies to limit entry at certain times or implement a reservation system for day visitors.
The main goal remains the protection of Venice, preserving its fragility and ensuring an acceptable quality of life for residents.
So, while the entry ticket has proven to be a significant source of revenue, its ability to reduce mass tourism is yet to be verified. Venice will need to continue experimenting and adapting to find effective long-term solutions.