Venice plans to charge visitors to the city and set quotas for visits from the summer of 2022.
It is reported by Bloomberg.
The Italian city, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, will also require potential visitors to reserve access in advance.
Turnstiles will be installed at the main access points to the historic center of the city.
Measures to control the influx of tourists is discussed for years before the pandemic. This year, as travel slowly recovers, restrictions are back on the agenda.
Last month, Italy banned large cruise ships from the Venice Lagoon to protect the place from excessive tourism, which may be just the first step in an attempt to restore and regulate mass tourism.
Admission to Venice can cost anywhere from 3 to 10 euros, depending on the season and how many tourists are expected that day. Locals, relatives of residents, and tourists who have booked a room in a Venetian hotel will be among those exempt from the fee.
Charging visitors remains a controversial move. City Councilor Marco Gasparinetti said it would turn Venice into an “amusement park,” and suggests limiting access only to especially busy areas, such as St. Mark’s Square.
