Venice has been given permission to charge entry fees for day-trippers. Italy has approved its 2020 budget with a clause allowing the city to impose a fee, specifically targeting day-trippers visiting the city. A similar “landing tax” is already in place when tourists visit Italy's tiny Aeolian Islands. Venice confirms to have the tax in place by July 1st, 2020.

HOW TO PAY:  Day trippers should be able to do it all online or via an app. There will be machines placed in strategic points in Venice for example the train station, Piazzale Roma and the Tronchetto, for those who haven't booked and paid in advance. Anyway, the idea is a normal ticket with normal controls, and at the moment it is unclear as to how it will be policed but it seems that normal law enforcement will be involved.

Rates will be PER PERSON AND PER DAY:

€ 5,00 per person for ordinary day-trippers

€ 5,00 per person for embarking and disembarking cruisers

€ 6,00 per person for ordinary day-trippers on 25 July / 01-08-22-29 August

€ 8,00 per person for ordinary day-trippers on 15 August

Cruise ship passengers will pay a flat 5 euros for 2020 and a flat 7 euro from 2021. These fees will be valid only if the cruise-ship company chooses to sign the agreement with the city.  

WHO HAS TO PAY THIS TAX: Anyone who's coming into Venice or the Islands in the lagoon and doesn't stay in a hotel, B&B or any other official accommodation inside the city, Venice or Mestre, and thus already is paying the local city tax. To be absolutely clear: if you are already paying the tourism tax (Tassa di soggiorno) at your hotel in Venice or Mestre, you do not have to pay the new landing tax.

COMMENTS: It is going to be very difficult to police and there are many questions which we have put to the Comune and are awaiting their feedback and further details.