Venice Extends Day-Tripper Tax in 2024 to Combat Overtourism

Venice will extend its day-tripper tax through next year, with an increase in both the number of days the tax is applied and the fee for last-minute visitors. City officials announced on Thursday that the tax will be implemented from April 18 to July 27, 2024, covering weekends and holidays, for a total of 54 days—almost double the number of days it was enforced this year. Last-minute visitors who fail to book at least four days in advance will now pay 10 euros ($10.80), up from the previous 5 euros ($5.40).

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro emphasized that the tax is part of Venice's ongoing effort to manage overtourism, which overwhelms the city's infrastructure, particularly during weekends and holidays. The fee will apply to visitors entering the city from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays through Sundays, and on specific holidays. However, exemptions will be provided for residents, Venetian-born individuals, students, workers, and tourists with pre-booked accommodations.

Despite criticism from some opposition figures and citizen groups who argue that the tax has failed to reduce tourist numbers significantly, Brugnaro highlighted that Venice is pioneering efforts to manage overtourism. “Venice is the first city in the world that tries to manage the problem of overtourism. We obtained important results,” the mayor stated, defending the initiative.

The tax was first introduced in 2022 and was tested on select days this year, generating 2.4 million euros ($2.6 million) and resulting in an average of 1,000 paid entrances on each test day. However, opposition councilor Giovanni Andrea Martini criticized the tax's effectiveness, citing data that showed an increase of 7,000 tourist entries on average during the period the fee was implemented compared to previous years.

Venice, with a population of just 50,000 residents, has long struggled to manage the influx of day-trippers and overnight guests, with annual visitor numbers estimated at 25 to 30 million since 2020. In addition to the tax, Venice has taken other measures to address tourism pressures, including banning large cruise ships from passing through its iconic St. Mark's Basin and Giudecca Canal.

The day-tripper tax and other recent initiatives helped Venice avoid inclusion on UNESCO’s list of endangered world heritage sites, a designation that has loomed over the city in recent years due to the threats posed by overtourism.