Venice imposes arrivals tax to tackle overtourism crisis

In an effort to combat overtourism, Venice has reinstated an arrivals tax for day visitors starting from April 18, 2025. This tax targets tourists, particularly those who do not spend the night in the historic city. Visitors who wish to enter are required to download a QR code at least three days prior, paying a fee of 5 euros for entry during designated busy periods, which now includes both weekends and key holidays. The duration of tax enforcement has significantly increased from the previous year, expanding the limited days to include more weekends and major holidays, thereby anticipating a larger revenue inflow. The city officials predict that the tax will yield a surplus of approximately 1 to 1.5 million euros this year, which is earmarked to support the cost of essential services for local residents, such as trash collection. This initiative came forth due to the continual rise in visitor numbers that started to raise concerns regarding the impact on Venice’s UNESCO World Heritage status. With around 77,000 registrations obtained just for this year, there is already a marked increase in the number of day-trippers willing to contribute to the preservation of the city. In a statistic revealed, around 12,744 day-trippers paid for entry already, with a notable percentage opting to pay at a higher rate imposed for certain time periods. The emergence of such taxes emphasizes the challenges that Venice faces concerning environmental sustainability, the preservation of historical sites, and the quality of life for its dwindling population. Venice's local community, once numbering 174,000 in 1951, has significantly decreased due to various socioeconomic factors. The quickening flow of tourists and their impact on local life has spurred activists and local residents to advocate for measures to rebalance the tourist influx with the needs of the inhabitants. This newly enforced tax is, therefore, not just about generating revenue, but about creating a more sustainable coexistence of daily visitors with local Venetians while preserving Venice's cultural and historical legacy.