Mayor Simone Venturini is trying to curb mass tourism in Venice.
In Venice, a proposal by the new mayor Simone Venturini about a possible significant increase in the entrance fee for short visitors to the northern Italian lagoon city has sparked a debate.
June 19, 2026, 12:48 p.mJune 19, 2026, 12:48 p.m
«If today it is between 5 and 10 euros, my suggestion is to to increase it to 30 to 50 euros on certain days.”the newspaper “Corriere della Sera” quoted him as saying. He wanted to talk to the government in Rome about it.
Venturini (38) prevailed as a candidate from the center-right camp in the local elections at the end of May and succeeded Luigi Brugnaro, who had previously been mayor of Venice for a good ten years. Venturini was previously tourism assessor in the lagoon city under Brugnaro and played a key role in the introduction of the entrance fee two years ago (Watson reported).
Critics doubt the effect of the fee
This year, Venice charges 10 euros for a ticket from short-term visitors for a total of 60 days until the end of July – even if they only spend a few hours in the alleys around St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge. Only those who book early – at least three days before – gets away with five euros. The aim of the measure is to put a stop to mass tourism.
Critics have been arguing for some time that the entrance fee hardly stops anyone from coming to Venice. The current figures from the city administration seem to at least partially support this assessment: Despite the staggered fee, many visitors continued to opt for the regular rate. The difference between five and ten euros is probably too small to have a noticeable influence on visitor behavior.
Venturini has to negotiate with Rome
“My program was clear: to reform and further develop the fee,” said Venturini. During the election campaign, he had already suggested increasing the entrance fee on certain days when a particularly large number of day tourists who were only in the city center for a few hours were expected.
According to Italian media reports, Venturini can’t increase the entry fee that easily. The fee was introduced by municipal ordinance, but the upper limit was set by a national law, the Il Post portal reported. Venturini therefore has to consult with the government in Rome, which he has now announced.
Ex-mayor: Fee is “barbarism”
There is criticism of the proposal in Venice: former mayor Massimo Cacciari called the fee a “barbarism” that would turn the city into a kind of museum. The constitutional lawyer Ludovico Mazzarolli also commented in the “Corriere della Sera”. legal concerns: 50 euros is no longer an access fee, but could be interpreted as a restriction on freedom of movement. (sda/dpa)