Venice introduces first global tourist entry fee amid controversy and housing woes

April 25 is not only a significant day for Venice due to its historical significance as both Italy’s Liberation Day and St. Mark’s Feast Day, but also because on this date the city will become the first worldwide to charge an entry fee for tourists visiting during specific hours. This pilot project, which runs until mid-July, requires visitors from outside of Veneto (the local region) who arrive between 8 am and 4 pm to pay a €5 ($5.40 USD) contribution di accesso or risk being turned away by police at entry points like Piazzale Roma and the train station. Residents are exempt, but they must register their presence for an exemption if staying overnight is not applicable. The council claims that 113,000 visitors registered on day one with approximately 80% of them pre-registering online; around half were hotel guests or friends/family members of residents while the remaining commuters and students entered Venice. This measure has brought concerns over a ticketing system and control methods not only due to logistics like long lines at checkpoints but also because no maximum number for visitors is set, making it difficult to regulate tourism in this amusement park-like atmosphere that’s being created. The registration scheme highlights the housing problems faced by Venetians as over 5,300 people registered on day one alone claiming second homes or Airbnb accommodations; with fewer than 50,000 residents currently living within city limits and tens of thousands pushed out to make room for tourists’ temporary stays. The council has employed around 150 individuals at checkpoints outside train/bus terminals and the main station where visitors can pay or register exemptions while verifying documents and providing advice on how this system works; Mayor Luigi Brugnaro declared that after reviewing feedback, they will make further decisions concerning implementation. However, some locals remain skeptical about turning Venice into a theme park and feel strongly against having to manage guest credentials. One oar maker commented: “They’re not putting an upper limit for entry…Today 80,000 people have booked – it will be a nightmare.” Others expressed concerns over data privacy issues with the new system as well as its potential impact on freedom of movement.