by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:56 AM ET, Tue May 24, 2022
Local officials in Venice announced the entry fee for arriving tourists-originally scheduled to take effect in June-has been postponed until next year.
According to EuroNews.com, the Italian travel hotspot approved the tourist tax as a way to help curb the "overwhelming number of daytrippers" heading to the city, as well as make up for the financial losses endured during the coronavirus pandemic.
While the tax idea has received positive reactions from locals, Venice authorities voted to delay the introduction of the fee until January 16, 2023.
When the new rule goes into effect, travelers visiting the historic city for the day will have to pre-book their visit and pay an entrance fee using a dedicated booking app. Prices will vary from around $3 in the offseason to $11 on the busiest days.
The local government also plans to install electronic turnstiles at access points to the city. Officials previously implemented a ban on cruise ships last summer and installed a video surveillance system that monitors the flow of tourists through the city's streets.
Before COVID-19 shut down travel, Venice was welcoming as many as 110,000 tourists per day, which far outnumbered the current resident population of around 50,000.
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