Sustainable tourism in Venice

Venice, a world- renowned tourist destination in northern Italy known for its emerald canals and picturesque architecture, is overwhelmed with millions of visitors each year. To preserve the city, the Venetian authorities have implemented a regulation requiring day-trip visitors during peak season to purchase an entrance fee of $5.50 USD (€5).

The city authorities have launched an online ticket sales website for tourists wishing to visit Venice between now and July 2024, with no limit on the number of tickets sold per day. Visitors to Venice during the 29 peak days, including the Italian holidays of April 25th and May 5th, and weekends in May, June, and July, who wish to enter the city center between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM must purchase a ticket. Buyers receive a QR code granting them access to the city for one day. Tourists who intentionally enter the city without a ticket will be fined between US$55 (EUR 50) and US$330 (EUR 300).

The Venice Tourism Board stated that the experimental ticketing system is not intended to increase revenue but rather to create a new balance between the rights of those living, studying, or working in Venice and those visiting the city. Those exempt from the ticket include residents, or those born in Venice, workers, or relatives of residents. These individuals only need to present their identification. Visitors under 14 and those booking hotel rooms will have to register and obtain a QR code, but will not be required to purchase a ticket. The new regulations do not apply to visitors to the smaller islands of Venice, including Murano, famous for its glassmaking industry.

The new regulations were issued after years of debate about how to manage the millions of tourists visiting Venice without reducing tourism revenue. However, following warnings from the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that Venice could be added to the list of World Heritage sites in danger, the city authorities took action.

Regulating the flow of tourists to preserve Venice's unique and sustainable values has always been a concern for the local authorities. In the past, there were times when this small city welcomed around 100,000 tourists a day. The crowds pouring into the Italian city, crammed into the canals, squares, bridges, and narrow alleyways day after day, gradually eroded its inherent beauty. Both the authorities and the people of Venice recognize that this tourist overcrowding is causing serious environmental and social consequences.

Therefore, Venice has been forced to implement a series of measures to control the number of tourists. These include a ban on cruise ships to minimize the large waves they cause, which are eroding Venice's foundations and damaging the city's fragile ecosystem. The ban also requires visitors to Venice each day to disembark from a port located quite far from the city. Furthermore, from June this year, tourist groups visiting Venice will be limited to a maximum of 25 people, equivalent to almost half the capacity of a tour bus. Groups are also prohibited from stopping on narrow streets, bridges, and walkways. The use of loudspeakers, a common sight in group tourism, is considered "potentially confusing and disruptive" and will also be banned in the city and surrounding islands.

PHAM NGUYET

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