Venice Ticket: Zuin, disincentive effect cannot be seen now

VENICE, 26 APR – Venice for the first time with an entrance ticket, and Venice however still invaded by 113 thousand visitors. An only apparent paradox was seen yesterday in the lagoon city, full of holidaymakers despite the fact that the ‘tax’ of 5 euros was applied for daily tourists. The explanation is given by the municipal budget councilor, Michele Zuin, who, together with the mayor Brugnaro and the tourism councilor, Venturini, followed the experimentation from the front row. “Yesterday it went very well – comments Zuin – there was no particular problem, we had 15 thousand people who had booked even though they knew they had to pay the contribution. And to those who say that there was no disincentive effect, I reply simply: the experimentation of these first 29 days of 2024 serves us precisely to work on what should be the maximum threshold of tourists present in the city, without destroying public services, transport, bathrooms”. It is clear, observes Zuin, that it cannot be 5 euros or less that convince tourists to stay away from Venice. “By cross-referencing all the data on this year’s flows, those of the cell phones of the people who arrived in the city in these days – he continues – in 2025 we will be able to set a maximum threshold of sustainable presences. Beyond that threshold, those who will still want to come to On hot days, Venice will have to pay a higher contribution, probably the maximum required by law – which limits it to the tourist tax – i.e. 10 euros. In that case, a group of more people will perhaps be discouraged from arriving in the city anyway. It was unthinkable that the disincentive effect would start immediately, with the 5 euros.” A maximum threshold, not a ban, Zuin specifies, “because we don’t want to, and we couldn’t, put a limited number on arrivals”. (HANDLE).