Venice entry fee: Locals furious, tourists confused | Dispatch

Emerging from Venice’s railway station on a dank, rainy morning, Sylvain Pellarin was the first person in the world to arrive in the city as it imposed an entrance fee on tourists, a controversial initiative that is being closely watched by other tourist hotspots.
The scheme, which has divided opinion in the World Heritage city, is intended to drastically cut the number of tourist arrivals and relieve some of the strain that ordinary Venetians have endured for years.
For his part, Mr Pellarin said he was happy to hand over €5 (£4.30) for the entry fee at a shiny new ticket office that has been set up in front of the station, a few yards from the Grand Canal.
“I’ve been coming to Venice since I was a child and I have seen mass tourism intensify,” said the 55-year-old quality controller from Orleans, in France.
“I’m fine with paying it if the money is used well to protect the city. I think it’s right that you have to pay to see a place like Venice.”
Read more here: www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new...
#Venice #italy #travel

[@govinda102000]

Tourist have turned it into a theme park. Day trippers and the large ships haven't made Venice any cleaner or better.

[@tomfurmby88]

this scheme is expected to raise 73 million euros per year and these Italian bureaucrats think people will believe maintaining the system which is essentially just an online payment website will cost 73 million euros per year? Maybe they need several hundred yachts to house the website servers and keep them secure in an offshore location...

[@westsenkovec]

When they said they said that Corona was just a practice run, they weren't lying.

[@MistyRiley308]

Well, in a sense the city is a large museum and theme park. Considering its days above water are likely numbered, maybe the fee is justified.

[@whatnextincomo]

The codes are a massive data and privacy breach! Not everyone wants, believe it or not, to have an Internet connected phone to carry one always. Venice, like many beautiful places in Italy, is flooded with visitors (citizens as well as foreigners, especially on weekends). We cannot all presume that we should be able to do what we want where we want at the same time, like a herd. But we do. It’s mayhem.

[@kenw5104]

Welcome to Venice. That'll be 10 Euro for two.

[@PattysCards]

People who want to go will still go. But it’s unfortunate for Italians looking for vacation in their country

[@crispin1046]

Orwell 1984 trial

[@spudspuddy]

exactly

[@whatsup3820]

Do Romanian pickpockets have to pay also?

[@user-iw6xo7xc1e]

Yet another Rip off.

[@aircraft2]

Places like Italy Spain and Japan becoming so anti tourist is why I'm thankful I was able to travel enough before Covid

[@spudspuddy]

nothing to do with the mild deliberately spread flu, its all about socialism and controlling the public's every move

[@enricoderojassarson5596]

So how does a tax control overuse? Should there just be a capacity limit. If they believe tourists are too many for the carrying capacity, then it is just like a nightclub, limit the occupancy.

[@roxximusik8958]

I can't understand why Al-Jazeera in particular repeatedly referred to this new tourism tax as being $5, not euros. Why ?

[@cherylrichard3059]

Venice has long been a theme park. Finally, if they charge enough money, they might better maintain the theme park.

[@roxximusik8958]

I was fortunate to have driven with family to Venice just a few years ago, and it was indeed a truly MAGICAL place! Let's hope the new tax is ring-fenced for its upkeep.

[@GoMakeIt]

Great reporting on a crazy scheme!

[@spudspuddy]

All about CONTROL

[@seeeerrrrppppiiico]

Gotta charge 50€ at the very least

[@Dungshoveleux]

People will book last minute accomodation with the ability to cancel at the last minute.

[@rickace132]

What about people that live in Italy and just want to go to Venice just to hang out? Now, they will have to pay every time to go there. That's dumb. Maybe, for citizens it should be free.

[@roxximusik8958]

I'd happily pay the five euros if coffee in St Mark's square was subsidised 50%. Scandalous pricing.

[@Rusty84CV]

​@@roxximusik8958 or just don't get your coffee from St Marks square

[@billcarson482]

They are the day trippers

[@DanielEuanHenderson]

Didn’t really like Venice , much preferred Verona

[@Trav-eller]

I felt the same.

[@user-pw5ls9ti2j]

Much better reporting, here, of the entrance fee than by Simon Calder for the Independent.

[@ciuyr2510]

Went full R. Never go full R!

[@cofa4011]

What a waste of money. Senior Journalist ? C'mon ...

[@yourdaddy925]

Ikr. Total bozo 😅

[@Yeah-its-me]

Is their goal to stop tourism??

[@spudspuddy]

to control and herd the public like animals, 1984

[@wadewimpress7529]

Going to Venice on holiday is an exciting experience that many people look forward to. However, being required to pay an additional five pounds to enter the city can be seen as a breach of freedom of movement. It restricts people's ability to freely travel and explore without financial constraints. Such policies can create barriers and hinder the enjoyment of what should be a carefree holiday.

[@wonyankeesays5661]

So what,,just another place ill never visit

[@u2ber888]

Broke! The reason like Bali tourism tax.

[@dustintacohands1107]

The city that used the crusades to destroy Constantinople left it for Islam it conquer and rename.

[@Trav-eller]

Better to just visit Dubai 😂 Venice stinks anyways.

[@SamLowryDZ-015]

Entitled whiners complaining that they should be able to stomp on history where ever they like and bugger the consequences and environmental cost.