Venice to fund clean-up with €10 entry fee for day-trippers

INVADED by 24million tourists a year, Venice is to charge visitors a tax of up to €10 (£9) each in a move approved by the Italian government.

The measure, which will bring in tens of millions of euros a year to the World Heritage city, was contained in Italy’s 2019 budget, which was passed at the weekend after months of acrimonious wrangling with Brussels.

Venetians have long complained that day-trippers and cruise ship passengers cause congestion and leave litter across the lagoon city without making an economic contribution. Of the 24million tourists who visit Venice each year, around 15million are day-trippers.

They will now be hit with the new charge, which is likely to be included in the cost of their bus, train or cruise ship ticket and then passed on to the authorities.

The tax will range from €2.50 to €10 per person, depending on whether visitors arrive in low or high season. Tourists who have booked a hotel room will be exempt, as they already pay a separate tax.

“This is a historic day,” said Luigi Brugnaro, the Venice mayor, who explained that the money would be put towards meeting the costs of maintaining and cleaning the city.

Venice’s geography – a network of canals and pedestrian alleyways – means that services such as rubbish disposal are up to 40per cent more expensive than other Italian cities. Increasingly smothered by mass tourism, Venice has debated for years whether to introduce a ticketing system and to limit the number of daily visitors. city