Updated 14.00 | Published 2 p.m
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Anyone who wants to visit Venice for the day will henceforth have to pay for a ticket.
Admission to the popular destination costs five euros. Many residents in the city are critical.
The mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, has previously said that it is not about making money, but that it is a way of trying to overcome the problems that mass tourism brings. The idea is that the fee should cause the tourist clusters to spread out, so that the number of people who come at the same time decreases.
– We aim to make the city more livable again, Luigi Brugnaro has previously told the media, according to AFP.
Venice thus becomes the first city in the world to enter. Anyone who does not pay the fee risks a fine of up to 300 euros, but residents, commuters, students, children under 14 and tourists staying overnight do not need to pay a ticket. The fee also applies, at least initially, only on certain days.
Not everyone is happy with the introduction of the fee and now residents in the area have started to protest against the decision, writes The Guardian.
They believe that Venice will get a bad name and that the cost will not do any good, but that the city will be seen as one big amusement park.
