If that headline looks a bit familiar, it’s because Monday’s news included our report that the U.S. Real ID requirement had been postponed for the 12th time. It appears Venice’s long-planned tourism tax is headed down the same road.
Its most recent official start date was to be January 16, 2023, but there is no likelihood that it can start earlier than next summer; the local government council says it needs to “change and improve” the project, in part because there is no clear decision on who will be exempt. As well, there are unresolved issues with transit operators who will take part in the system.
Discussed for years as Venice felt inundated with one-day visitors, especially from cruise ships, it was originally supposed to take effect in 2019. It takes the form of an entry fee of €3 to €10, depending on day and time of year; more expensive when most crowded. Reservations made online are required, but the reservation site that was supposed to in place ahead of the deadline has not yet been created.
The exemption issue is a thorny one. Clearly exempt under all versions of the plan are city residents, tourists who are staying overnight, owners of second homes in Venice, and people who are employed or studying in the city. But Venice is only one part of the surrounding Veneto region, and regional authorities are said to be demanding that all Veneto residents be exempt, which the city authorities oppose.
