Many countries have introduced or are planning to introduce various types of tourist taxes – resort fees. These actions are undertaken, among others, due to the increase in tourist traffic and the desire to protect the values of the region, e.g. natural formations and monuments.
One of the places where the authorities decided to charge an entrance fee to the city was Venice. This solution was tested for 29 days, and the test summary stated that it turned out to be an excellent idea.
The 29-day experiment began on April 25 and lasted on selected days until July 14. Tourists who wanted to visit Venice had to register and pay for your arrival, and download the QR code with confirmation. Only those travelers who booked a stay in hotels in the city were exempt from the fee. According to the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, the test of such a solution brought 2 425 310 euro.
This exceeded initial estimates — the amount expected was around 700 thousand euros. Due to the success of the trial, the authorities are considering making this solution permanent and increasing the fee – during testing it was 5 euros.
Read also: Which countries have a tourist tax? How much is it and how do you pay it?
The trial entry fee officially ended on July 14, but the mayor’s office has already announced that the solution will now be thoroughly analyzed and a final decision will be made, Should the fees be reinstated? e.g. only during periods of increased traffic.
No specific date was given, but Simone Venturini, head of the tourism department at the city government, told PAP that “the entrance fee is part of a long-term initiative and a broader strategy, and one of the options being considered is increase in the amount collected from next year”.
Source: geekweek.interia.pl
