Venice's new mayor proposes a dynamic pricing system for the city's access fee, raising it to as much as $59 on the busiest days to ease overcrowding.
Mayor Simone Venturini stated the current fee of approximately $11 for last-minute reservations has failed to discourage visitors on peak days. The surge-pricing model aims to curb crowds and fund maintenance. The city spends 100 million euros annually just to physically maintain Venice.
Day-trippers generate significant waste, with removal costs driven up because everything must be done by hand, using brooms, boats, and handcarts.
The proposal requires an amendment to Italy's special law governing Venice. While the upper limit has drawn criticism as prohibitive, Venturini says the city will experiment with pricing levels. A cap on visitor numbers is not allowed under current Italian law.
The historic center's resident population has dropped below 48,000, while tourist beds exceed 51,500. Venturini argues the population count is understated because students and seasonal workers often do not register as residents.