Venice To Introduce Long-Rumored Entry Fee...
 

for short-term day trippers - especially aimed at the city's about a million such visitors coming off cruise ships, according to the BBC News report:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46721456

The fee which could be as low as 2.50 euros to a maximum of 10 euros in peak season. It is slated to start effective high season summer 2019. Thus TMK Venice is the first city in Europe to institute such a charge though some Italian islands frequented by cruise ships already have one.

Though I understand the dire need for Venice to collect some fees from these day trippers who, unlike those staying in hotels, pay no taxes to help with the upkeep of the city, something is a bit upsetting to see charges to get into cities coming into play. I'd rather see the Cruise Ship pay a per capita charge and buses and cars coming across the causeway pay for the vehicle but leave entry to Venice free.

But, again I support Venice's choice to initiate such charges. The article gives the bare facts - I wonder if folks coming in by train for just a day also have to pay and people arriving by car for the day too?

I think the premise is a good one, thousands of day trippers come via the cruise ships and personally a few € per person is reasonable. After 3 visits I just don’t get the mystic of Venice, we’ve stayed several nights each time and just don’t get it. This is only my opinion.

Some may find it incredible that one is not mesmerized by Venice but I can see your view - some folks stay weeks there and love it but yes some do not.

Glad to see this happen. Hope Croatia ports follow suit, My opinion is that more of this should take place. I am not religious but love to see the beautiful churches of Europe and would gladly pay an entry fee. I have seen a few do so and always applaud them. For many people they are more like museums than houses of worship and should be treated accordingly when it comes to payments.

The Stephansdom in Vienna lets everyone in, but you can only go a short distance inside unless you pay. I was surprised by how many people were satisfied by just standing at the back and didn't pay.

As I posted on the other thread, this is not a solution to the overcrowding. That requires Venice to limit cruise ship arrivals and accept that there will less income for some of the shop owners. I believe Dubrovnik, which was ridiculously overcrowded the last time I was there, is limiting arrivals. Tourism is like a lot of things. A little is good but too much will destroy you.

While it will be easy to charge people coming off the ships, it will be funny to catch people at the station or car park.

I foresee a per cabin fee for cruise ships and surcharges on tour buses and parking for non-residents, as well as a surcharge on single trip train tickets into Venice and same day round trip train tickets. None of these would be hard to collect or intrude upon freedom of movement, yet would fund the upkeep of Venice.

I'm fine with the concept (you get what you pay for), but doubtful about the execution. I guess they will work it out eventually, but I suspect that the launch will be less than smooth.

Back in the Autumn they tried fitting gates (like on subways) to the entrance from the bus stop area. Local vigilantes removed them day 2.

That's why the surcharges will be attached to the price of tickets and cruises, if I am predicting correctly.