Debut with tensions a Venice today, the day of the start of the experimentation of entrance ticket, five euros. At the end of the day, in which there was also a demonstration by collectives against the ticket (with some push with the police), there were 15,700 paid contributions and 113,000 exemptions. The experimentation will now continue every day until May 5th, then the first conclusions can be drawn.
Overall they will be 29 days until July in which the new entry procedure will be activated: these were decided by the municipal administration, which identified the busiest weekends. Information points will be provided in Piazzale Roma and at the station.
The decision to activate the experimentation of the access contribution starts from a provision of the 2019 budget law of the Municipality of Venice, then updated in 2021. The objective of the municipal administration is “to define a new system for managing tourist flows and to discourage daily tourism in Venice in certain periods, in line with the delicacy and uniqueness of the city, to guarantee it the full respect it deserves”.
Brugnaro: “Let’s try to make the city more livable”
“I have the honor of being the mayor of the most beautiful city in the world – explained Mayor Luigi Brugnaro in the two-hour press conference in Rome with questions from journalists from all over the world -, but which in recent years has had a quality problem of people’s lives, of civility and respect for rules. No politician makes a measure like this because it is easier to stand still and not try to find a solution. We try to make the city more usable and liveable. This access fee will be a test and advance since the cost will be higher than what we will collect, at least in this year of experimentation which concerns 29 days”.
“The benefit we expect – the mayor explained – is a few fewer daily visitors. It is true that we have given exemption to the Venetians, who come to visit the city on the same day, but it is also true that introducing a reservation could discourage them from coming on those days and therefore make the city less crowded. We strongly reiterate that no one wants to close Venice and that if anyone still wants to come during these black days, they will be able to do so by paying a contribution of 5 euros and booking the visit to the city. This will allow us to have real and important data: how many visitors, where they come from, how many exemptions and much more, an important tool for understanding how to organize services. It is not a measure that I take lightly, but if we just keep talking we will never do anything to preserve the delicacy and beauty of Venice. Once this period of experimentation is over, we will have plenty of time to make the reflections that need to be made, to improve and change, with everyone’s help.”
Dates
The contribution will be requested only for 29 days, more precisely on 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 April 2024; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 May 2024; 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 June 2024 and 6, 7, 13 and 14 July 2024.
The contribution
The amount for 2024 is 5 euros per day and there are no reductions. There is not even the identification of an attendance threshold beyond which to apply an increase in the access fee, which will be applied only to the ancient city and not to the smaller islands including Lido di Venezia (including Alberoni and Malamocco), Pellestrina, Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, Mazzorbo, Mazzorbetto, Vignole, S. Andrea, the Certosa, San Servolo, S. Clemente, Poveglia.
Collection
The “heart of the system” is a multi-channel and multilingual platform. The collection will take place directly from the Municipality of Venice, especially through a web-app that can be reached at the address cda.ve.it by accessing which you will be able to obtain the title (QR Code) to be shown in case of checks. The title certifies payment of the contribution or the condition of exclusion/exemption and must always be kept with you.
Who has to pay
Specifically, it has been established that the access fee must be paid by every natural person, over the age of 14, who accesses the Ancient City of the Municipality of Venice, unless they fall within the categories of exclusions and exemptions. Generally speaking, the contribution will be requested from daily visitors who do not stay in structures located in the Municipality of Venice.
Who is excluded
Residents of the Municipality of Venice, workers (employed or self-employed), including commuters, students of any level and type of schools and universities located in the ancient city or in the smaller islands, subjects and members of families of those who appear to have paid the IMU in Venice.
Who is exempt
They are exempt from payment, but must be registered on the portal cda.ve.it all those who stay in accommodation facilities located within the municipal territory (overnight tourists), residents of the Veneto Region, children up to 14 years of age, those in need of care, those who participate in sports competitions, law enforcement agencies in service, the spouse, partner, relatives or in-laws up to the 3rd degree of residents in the areas in which the Access Contribution is valid, and a further series of exemptions provided for in the Regulation.
The sanctions
60 people are responsible for verifying the ticket, with fines in case of violation ranging from 50 to 300 euros.
Information
On the portal cda.ve.it There is a constantly updated FAQ section.
Access to the city
Physical gates have been established at the main access points to the city, distinct from priority gates for residents and workers. Stewards check visitors’ QR codes and are available to help those who do not have one to download the entry ticket on site and pay the fee. Once past the gates, if anyone does not have the access fee they will be fined by the inspectors who will carry out random checks.
