A popular European city is considering a dramatic increase to its controversial tourist entry charge, with proposals to raise the fee from €10 to as much as €50 (£43) in an effort to tackle the persistent overtourism problem.
Simone Venturini, a key figure in the administration of the city of Venice, has been championing the substantial price hike, claiming that boosting the charge is vital for managing the mounting strain caused by visitor numbers.
"The higher the ticket price, the better for us," Mr Venturini said.
The proposal has already sparked significant criticism, with opponents describing the plan as "barbarous" and potentially in breach of constitutional principles.
The Italian city first launched its pay-to-enter system in 2024, becoming the first major European destination to charge visitors simply for access.
Under the current pricing structure, day-trippers face a €10 charge if they book fewer than four days ahead, while those planning further in advance pay €5.
Several categories of visitors are exempt from the fee entirely, including local residents, Venice-born individuals, students, workers, and anyone arriving before 8.30am or departing after 4pm.
Overnight guests staying in hotels or rental properties are also not required to pay.
Venice is considering a fivefold price hike on it's tourist entry fee
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Overnight guests staying in hotels or rental properties are also not required to pay.
The system operates through online ticket purchases, with verification taking place at major access points such as the railway station.
Visitors found without valid tickets risk penalties of up to €300.
This year, authorities are extending the scheme's reach, with the number of days requiring payment rising from 54 to 60.
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The aim of the process would be to limit the amount of tourists allowed into the city
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Official data suggests the existing scheme has achieved only modest results in curbing visitor numbers, with average daily arrivals during summer dropping from 16,676 in 2024 to 13,046 in 2025.
Mr Venturini maintains that the objective is not to impose an outright ceiling on tourism but rather to encourage visitors to distribute their trips more evenly.
"We need to keep an eye on the total number of visitors to Venice, but we do not want to put a maximum limit on tourists, so instead we can aim to get them to spread out and avoid coming on those days when we face the prospect of 80,000 visitors," he told The Times.
Securing parliamentary approval for fees of €30 or €50 would help fund tourist services, including waste collection, while potentially offering ticket holders reduced museum admission prices.
The prospect of charging visitors substantially more has provoked fierce resistance from various sectors.
Former mayor Massimo Cacciari condemned the approach in stark terms.
"There is no other Italian or European city that you have to buy a ticket to enter, as if it were a museum," he said. "This is barbarous, uncivil and in my opinion anti-constitutional."
Constitutional expert Ludovico Mazzarolli told Corriere della Sera that a €50 entry charge could potentially clash with the Italian Constitution's guarantee of free movement within the country.
Critics have suggested that if Venice genuinely wishes to address overcrowding, officials should instead concentrate on restricting the number of properties available through short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb.