Aussies hoping to travel to one of the world’s top tourist destinations, Venice in Italy, will now be facing a new hurdle in the form of a tourist tax. The city, known for its rich history and picturesque canals, has been grappling with an overwhelming number of visitors, with around 15 million people passing through annually.
In an effort to preserve the city and its infrastructure, local authorities have introduced a $A8 access fee for day visitors from 8.30am to 4pm local time. This trial period will run for 29 days, with exemptions for residents of the Veneto region, workers, students, children under 14, and those with booked accommodation in the city.
The decision to implement this tourist tax comes as Venice struggles to cope with the influx of tourists, which has led to significant strain on the city’s resources and environment. With fewer than 50,000 permanent residents in the historic center, the sheer volume of tourists has been causing overcrowding and damage to the city’s landmarks.
This move follows similar initiatives in other popular travel destinations, such as Bali, where a tourist tax was recently reintroduced at a reduced rate of $15. The revenue generated from the Venice tourist tax will be used to fund renovations of canals, roads, and buildings, with a decision on the permanent implementation of the fee expected by the end of the year.