Venice may raise its tourist tax in 2025

Earlier this year, Venice, Italy, experimented with a tourist tax, charging day visitors 5 euros ($5.43) for entry on 29 specific days. The City of Bridges now aims to extend this tax into the next year, potentially increasing the fee.

The Venice tourist tax was a contentious topic for several years, facing numerous delays and obstacles before it was finally implemented this year — a brief trial took place on select days between April 25 and July 14.

Visitors entering the city before 8:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m., as well as those staying in hotels who had already paid a lodging tax, were exempt from this fee. Those who did not pay faced on-the-spot fines ranging from 50 to 300 euros ($54-$325) during random checks.

The tourist tax was introduced to tackle overtourism in Venice, one of Europe's most famous and frequented destinations. Nevertheless, the fee did little to deter visitors — an average of 75,000 people flocked to the city each day during the initial 11 days of the trial.

While the tourist tax didn't significantly decrease the number of visitors, it successfully brought in approximately 2.4 million euros in extra revenue. City officials indicated that these funds could help support vital municipal services in Venice, including garbage collection and canal upkeep.

Both Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Deputy Mayor Assessore Simone Venturini have suggested that the tax is likely to persist and possibly increase, with stronger enforcement measures in place. Some city officials are pushing for a fee hike, while others believe the increase should vary depending on whether the payment is made in advance or at the last minute.

Although specifics are still being determined, Brugnaro has expressed openness to exploring additional modifications to the tourist tax system in order to tackle overtourism. "We'll have to wait for autumn to analyze the collected data," he mentioned during a press conference. "This will help us identify the tools necessary for the protection and preservation of Venice."

Key Takeaway

After much deliberation, Venice launched a tourist tax as part of a 29-day trial beginning in April. Although the initiative didn't effectively address overtourism as initially hoped, it has provided a valuable new revenue stream for the city, which officials plan to use for ongoing maintenance and preservation efforts in Venice.

Ongoing analysis will take place in the upcoming months, but travelers should anticipate that the tourist tax will remain in effect in 2025 — with a potential increase in the fee.