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Venice entry fee in 2024: all you need to know

In spring 2024 , the City of Venice takes a step forward to combat overtourism and move towards a more sustainable and responsible tourism . From 25 April , in fact, there will be a fee for tourist to enter Venice for a trial period that will last until July, in order to support local tourism and preserve the authenticity of the city and its inhabitants by limiting entry on the "black sticker" days of the year.

Here is all the information you need to organise your trip in the best possible way.

How much does the ticket cost and how to pay

Admission to Venice from 25 April will cost €5 per person per day. The fee is the same for everyone and there are currently no reductions. Each ticket is nominal and valid for the entire day , so if you leave the city centre to re-enter during the day you will not need a new ticket, but you will not need to buy one if you enter the city between 4pm and 8.30am.

To purchase the ticket simply go to the official website of the Municipality of Venice and follow the instructions. Once you have made the payment you will be issued with a voucher with a QR-code to take with you and show in case of controls at one of the eight access points.

Venice oentry fee: who has to pay

The dates on which you will have to purchase your ticket

For this trial period, Venice entry fee is limited only to "black-sticker" days , when the overcrowding is greatest.

Here are the days on which you need to purchase an entrance ticket:

- From April 25th to May 5th .

- The remaining weekends of May , namely 11/12, 18/19, 25/26 May.

- All the weekends in June, except the first one , and therefore: 8/9, 15/16, 22/23, 29/30 June.

- The first two weekends of July , i.e. 6/7, 13/14.

This solution implemented by the municipality of Venice is aimed at preserving the heritage and uniqueness of this city , containing daily tourism and making it more sustainable. Moreover, this measure is also intended to give residents some breathing space, allowing them to enjoy their city.

In these "black-sticker" days, the entrance ticket will make the streets and monuments more enjoyable for everyone, but the smartest way to visit Venice remains the Venice Pass , which allows you to skip the queue at the most important attractions and take advantage of discounts and concessions.

Let us all commit to safeguarding Venice's heritage!

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Venice launches world first tourist entrance fee in bid to fight overcrowding

VENICE, Italy — Ancient and beautiful, this city is sometimes referred to as an open air museum — and now visitors to Venice will have to pay an entry fee after the tourist hub on Thursday became the first in the world to introduce a charging system for day-trippers.

In a bid to thin out the crowds that throng to see the canals, bridges and striking architecture during vacation season, day-trippers will have to pay 5 euros ($5.35) to enter the lagoon city on 29 peak days, mostly on weekends, as part of a trial phase until July 14. 

Tourists who have booked at least one night at a hotel in the city will be exempt from the charge, as will residents, workers and students in the city. Visitors under age 14 will also be exempt. But like the day-trippers, they will also have to ensure they have registered online and received QR codes.  

Those without smartphones will have to go to the city’s Santa Lucia train station to buy tickets. 

Among the thousands of people lining up at the station for a ticket Thursday was Donna Porter-Mutchler, a tourist from Tennessee, who told NBC News she thought the charge was “a wonderful idea.”  

“Venice deserves to be taken care of,” she said. “I think it’s more than worth it. I come here often, and I’ll pay every time.” 

While there will be no limits on the number of people who can register, officials hope the fee will put people off on days it applies. 

“We are not looking to collect money, tax people or introduce a police state,” Simone Venturini, Venice’s tourism councilor, told NBC News. “We are being democratic about it, but the important message is: ‘Please, if you are a day-tripper, choose another day.’”

While there are no turnstiles at the city’s entrance points to make sure people have passes, inspectors will make random checks and issue fines of 50 to 300 euros to anyone who has failed to register.

Prominent signs across the city and a TV and newspaper advertising campaign have been launched in Italy and some other countries to let people know about it. And with the help of artificial intelligence , Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has also recorded a video message in several languages to inform tourists about the charge.  

Officials in the city estimate an average of 50,000 people a day visit Venice, an influx that almost matches the resident population, some of whom are unhappy about the new charge.  

“Venice has turned into Disneyland, where tourists are catered more than residents, and charging $5 is not going to stop anyone,” Federica Toninello of the Social Assembly for Housing and the Solidarity Network for Housing in Venice said Thursday. “It’s just propaganda.”

Others, like tourist guide Luisella Romeo, said they were concerned about the use of personal data collected by the new system. “That’s an invasion of privacy. Those details will remain in the system for five years and could be given to third parties, public and private,” she said. 

But officials in the city, which narrowly escaped being placed on UNESCO’s “World Heritage in Danger” list last year, in part because the United Nations body decided that it was not addressing concerns that its delicate ecosystem risked being overwhelmed by mass tourism, have insisted that something needed to be done. 

Three years ago, large cruise ships were banned from sailing into the Venetian lagoon , and the city has also announced limits on the sizes of tourist groups.

While the charge in Venice is still in its experimental stage, other popular Italian tourism destinations, like Lake Como, which has struggled with overcrowding for years, are watching closely.

Only time will tell whether it ends up dead in the water.  

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.

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A day trip to Venice will require a reservation — and a fee

The Associated Press

A tourist takes a selfie in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, in 2016. Starting in January, the city will require day-trippers to make reservations and pay a fee to visit. Luca Bruno/AP hide caption

A tourist takes a selfie in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, in 2016. Starting in January, the city will require day-trippers to make reservations and pay a fee to visit.

ROME — Starting in January, Venice will oblige day-trippers to make reservations and pay a fee to visit the historic lagoon city, in a bid to better manage visitors who often far outnumber residents in the historic center, clogging narrow streets and heavily-used foot bridges crossing the canals.

Venice officials on Friday unveiled new rules for day-trippers, which go into effect on Jan. 16, 2023.

Tourists who choose not to stay overnight in hotels or other lodgings will have to sign up online for the day they plan to come and pay a fee. These range from 3 to 10 euros ($3.15 to $10.50) per person, depending on advance booking and whether it's peak season or the city is very crowded.

Transgressors risk fines as high as 300 euros ($315) if stopped and unable to show proof they booked and paid with a QR Code.

From the archives

With waters rising and its population falling, what is venice's future.

Roughly four-fifths of all tourists come to Venice just for the day. In 2019, the last full year of tourism before the pandemic, some 19 million day-trippers visited Venice and provided just a fraction of the revenue from those staying for at least one night.

Venice's tourism commissioner brushed off any suggestion that the measure would seek to limit the number of out-of-towners coming to Italy's most-visited city.

"We won't talk about number cutoffs. We're talking about incentives and disincentives," Simone Venturini told a news conference in Venice.

Tourists stroll in downtown Venice in 2016. On many days, the heart of the city is overwhelmed by visitors, who often far outnumber residents. Luca Bruno/AP hide caption

Tourists stroll in downtown Venice in 2016. On many days, the heart of the city is overwhelmed by visitors, who often far outnumber residents.

The reservation-and-fee approach had been discussed a few years ago, but was put on hold during the pandemic. COVID-19 travel restrictions saw tourism in Venice nearly vanish — and let Venetians have their city practically to themselves, for the first time in decades.

Mass tourism began in the mid-1960s. Visitor numbers kept climbing, while the number of Venetians living in the city steadily dwindled, overwhelmed by congestion, the high cost of delivering food and other goods in car-less Venice, and frequent flooding that damages homes and businesses.

Since guests at hotels and pensions already pay a lodging tax, they are exempt from the reserve-and-fee obligation.

With the new rule, Venice aims to "find this balance between (Venetian) resident and long-term and short-term" visitors, Venturini said, promising that the new system "will be simple for visitors" to manage. He billed Venice as the first city in the world putting such a system for day-only visitors in place.

As tourists crowd out locals, Venice faces endangered' list

The tourism official expressed hope that the fee-and-reservation obligation will "reduce frictions between day visitors and residents." In peak tourism system, tourists can outnumber residents 2-to-1, in the city that measures 5 square kilometers (2 square miles) in area.

Venice's resident population in the historic city numbers just over 50,000, a small fraction of what it was a couple of generations ago.

Exceptions to the day-tripper fees include children younger than 6, people with disabilities and those owning vacation apartments in Venice, provided they can show proof they pay real estate taxes.

Cruise ships contribute to the hordes of visitors swarming Venice's maze of narrow streets, especially near St. Mark's Square, when they disembark day-trippers for a few hours. Those visitors will have to pay, too, unless their cruise liner company pays a set fee to Venice.

Venice residents protest as city begins tourist entry charge

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Venice to trial admission fee, visitor limit from April 2024

City mayor hopes scheme can be a model for other places that are struggling to cope with surging visitor numbers.

Venice will trial an admission fee and a daily limit on visitor numbers in its overcrowded centre from next April, in a scheme the Italian city’s mayor has hailed as a world first.

The system is designed to manage the flow of tourists when visitor numbers are at their peak, local authorities said during a press conference on Thursday.

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“It is the first time in the world that you do something like this, you make a city bookable,” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said.

Under the scheme, day visitors will pay five euros ($5.45) to enter the city centre between 8:30am and 4pm during the peak tourist season from April 25 to May 5.

The fee will also apply for the remaining weekends in May and June, as well as the first two weekends of July.

Travellers will have to book their visit online and obtain a QR code that will be checked at specific entry points and grant them access to the city’s historic quarters.

Restrictions will not apply to the lagoon’s smaller islands, such as Murano, which is famous for its glass-making industry.

Authorities have debated for years, without taking action, over how best to regulate the millions of visitors who flock to the fragile, lagoon city to enjoy its picturesque canals and sights including St Mark’s Square, and the Rialto Bridge.

The historic centre has a permanent population of about 51,000 people and many worry their city, already subject to regular flooding , cannot cope with the increasing number of visitors.

The ticketing plan had been repeatedly postponed over concerns it would curb tourist revenue and compromise freedom of movement.

But city authorities finally decided to push forward with the experiment after UNESCO warned it could list Venice as an at-risk world heritage site.

Residents and people who were born in Venice as well as students, workers and homeowners in the city will be exempt from the scheme, while access for children under the age of 14 will be free once they have registered.

Those who fail to comply with the measures will face fines of between 50 and 310 euros (between $54 and $340)

Brugnano said authorities were ready to make changes to the system to ensure it works, but suggested it could “serve as a model for other fragile and delicate cities that must be protected”.

Venice implements new access fees for day-trippers: What to know about the new system

The waterfront city is popular for Piazza San Marco, canals and bridges.

Peak summer travel season is fast approaching, and some cities abroad have already implemented fees in an attempt to protect popular destinations from potential damage from increased tourism.

Bustling European cities from Barcelona to Amsterdam that get flooded with tourists, especially at historical hotspots during the high season, have used tourist taxes to help raise revenue without taxing local citizens.

Now, the city of bridges is following in the footsteps of Spain, Greece and Germany, which have all utilized a similar fee-based approach, testing a new entry fee for any visitors who come to Venice just for the day.

Earlier this year, the coastal city, known for it's lagoon, hand-blown glass and close proximity to the heart of Italy's popular Prosecco region, announced a new reservation system that would charge day trippers 5 euros to enter and enjoy Venice.

With nearly 40,000 visitors on average per day -- nearly double the city's population -- local authorities hope this move will help protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site from the influx of tourists.

Starting Thursday, travelers can download an app to pay and attain a QR code, which will be checked by inspectors to enter the city as a visitor. If someone traveling for the day in Venice is caught without the code, they may face a fine of up to 300 euros.

"It is not a revolution, but the first step of a path that regulates the access of daily visitors. An experiment that aims to improve the liveability of the city, who lives there and who works there. We will carry it forward with great humility and with the awareness that there may be problems," Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in a statement on X regarding the announcement.

"The margins of error are wide, but we are ready, with humility and courage, to make all the changes that will serve to improve the procedure. Venice is the first city in the world to implement this path, which can be an example for other fragile and delicate cities that must be safeguarded," he continued.

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Simone Venturini, Venice city councilor for tourism, told ABC News that the smart control center is within the most important part of the city -- Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square.

"Authorities will use the new QR codes, plus cell phone data and the roughly 700 cameras around Venice to track and potentially regulate visitors," he explained. "We are switching to action after 60 years of only debate... our ultimate goal is to find a new balance between the needs of the residents and the needs of tourists."

Venturini told ABC News local officials had "a lot of discussion" with leaders in other cities who have worked to combat overtourism, including Amsterdam, Barcelona and Kyoto.

"We are talking together just to find the solution," he said.

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Venice Will Soon Have a Tourist Fee for Day-trippers — What to Know If You're Visiting

Day-trippers will have to sign up online the day they plan to visit and pay a fee ranging from 3 euros to 10 euros per person.

Venice has unveiled specifics for its new tourist fee that will be implemented next year.

The new tax will go into effect on Jan. 16, 2023, and will apply to day-trippers only, The Associated Press reported , citing officials in the canal city. The city had initially planned to implement the tourist fee this summer as a way to combat overtourism, but decided to push it to next year in May.

Simone Venturini, Venice's councilor for tourism, called the tax a "great revolution," CNN reported .

"Venice is a living city and it has to stay that way," Venturini said, explaining the goal was to reduce "tourist peaks."

Day-trippers will have to sign up online the day they plan to visit and pay a fee ranging from 3 euros to 10 euros per person, depending on the time of year and how crowded the city is, the AP reported. Those who don't pay the tax will risk a fine up to 300 euros (or $315).

Children under 6 will be exempt from the fee. Overnight visitors who book a hotel stay will also be exempt as they already pay a €5 ($5.33) per night tax.

About four-fifths of all tourists who visit Venice go for the day with about 19 million day-trippers visiting in 2019, according to The AP.

The fee, which has been a consideration since 2019, is Venice's latest effort to combat overtourism. The idea has been boosted by the near immediate improvement the city saw after the pandemic halted tourism, including allowing its famous canals to start to clear up .

Last year, Italy declared the waterways around Venice a "national monument ," and banned large cruise ships from the lagoon basin near St. Mark's Square and the Giudecca Canal. Venice's efforts have since earned it a reprieve from being included on the UNESCO World Heritage danger list.

Italy welcomes travelers from the United States and does not require them to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter. The country has also stopped requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination to visit places like restaurants, bars, and museums.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram .

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Venice, Overwhelmed by Tourists, Tries Tracking Them

Can cellphone data and surveillance cameras help restore the city’s old-world charm, or just destroy what magic remains?

By Emma Bubola

VENICE — As the pandemic chased away visitors, some Venetians allowed themselves to dream of a different city — one that belonged as much to them as to the tourists who crowd them out of their stone piazzas, cobblestone alleyways and even their apartments.

In a quieted city, the chiming of its 100 bell towers, the lapping of canal waters and the Venetian dialect suddenly became the dominant soundtrack. The cruise ships that disgorged thousands of day-trippers and caused damaging waves in the sinking city were gone, and then banned .

But now, the city’s mayor is taking crowd control to a new level, pushing high-tech solutions that alarm even many of those who have long campaigned for a Venice for Venetians.

The city’s leaders are acquiring the cellphone data of unwitting tourists and using hundreds of surveillance cameras to monitor visitors and prevent crowding. Next summer, they plan to install long-debated gates at key entry points; visitors coming only for the day will have to book ahead and pay a fee to enter. If too many people want to come, some will be turned away.

The conservative and business-friendly mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, and his allies say their aim is to create a more livable city for beleaguered Venetians.

“Either we are pragmatic, or we live in the world of fairy tales,” said Paolo Bettio, who heads Venis, the company that handles the city’s information technology.

But many residents see the plans to monitor, and control, people’s movements as dystopian — and either a publicity stunt or a way to attract wealthier tourists, who might be discouraged from coming by the crowds.

“It’s like declaring once and for all that Venice is not a city, but a museum,” said Giorgio Santuzzo, 58, who works as a photographer and artist in the city.

Venice is, by many measures, already a dead city. Many Venetians are frustrated having to travel to the mainland to buy undershirts because souvenir shops selling fake Murano glass have driven out businesses catering to locals.

They are tired of tourists asking them where they can find Saint Peter’s Square — it’s in Rome — and of local politicians milking the city for tourism money while disregarding the needs of residents.

Still, many say, the high-tech solutions will not bring a more authentic Venice back to itself. Instead, they fear it will steal some of the romance that remains.

On a recent summer morning, a Spanish couple, Laura Iglesias and Josép Paino, had clearly fallen under the city’s spell as they wandered among ancient palazzos and winding canals. They said they felt transported back in time.

“Venice,” Ms. Iglesias sighed, “is the perfect place to lose yourself.”

But Venice, it turns out, did not lose sight of them.

Above the couple’s heads, a high-definition camera was recording about 25 frames per second. Software tracked their speed and trajectory. And in a control room a few miles away, city officials examined phone data gathered from them and just about everyone in Venice that day. The system is designed to collect people’s age, sex, country of origin and prior location.

“We know minute by minute how many people are passing and where they are going,” Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official, said as he surveyed the control room’s eight screens showing real-time frames of Saint Mark’s Square. “We have total control of the city.”

Originally, the surveillance cameras beaming in the images — along with hundreds more citywide — were installed to monitor for crime and reckless boaters. But now they double as visitor trackers, a way for officials to spot crowds they want to disperse.

Officials say the phone-location data will also alert them to prevent the type of crowds that make crossing the city’s most famous bridges a daily struggle. In addition, they are trying to figure out how many visitors are day-trippers, who spend little time — and little of their money — in Venice.

Once officials establish such patterns, the information will be used to guide the use of the gates and the booking system. If crowds are expected on certain days, the system will suggest alternative itineraries or travel dates. And the admission fee will be adjusted to charge a premium, up to 10 euros, or about $11.60, on what are expected to be high-traffic days.

City leaders dismiss critics who fret about the invasion of privacy, saying that all of the phone data is gathered anonymously. The city is acquiring the information under a deal with TIM, an Italian phone company, which like many others is capitalizing on increased demand for data by law enforcement, marketing firms and other businesses.

In fact, data from Venetians is also being swept up, but city officials say they are receiving aggregated data and therefore, they insist, cannot use it to follow individuals. And the thrust of its program, they say, is to track tourists, whom they say they can usually spot by the shorter amount of time they stay in the city.

“Every one of us leaves traces,” said Marco Bettini, a manager at Venis, the I.T. company. “Even if you don’t communicate it, your phone operator knows where you sleep.” It also knows where you work, he said, and that on a specific day you are visiting a city that is not yours.

But Luca Corsato, a data manager in Venice, said the collection raises ethical questions because phone users probably have no idea a city could buy their data. He added that while cities have bought phone location data to monitor crowds at specific events, he was unaware of any other city making this “massive and constant” use of it to monitor tourists.

“It is true that they are under attack,” he said of the city’s leaders. “But giving the idea that everyone who enters is labeled and herded is dangerous.”

Some tourists bemoaned both a loss of privacy and something less tangible.

“Venice’s romance is gone because of the crowds,” said Martin Van Merode, 32, a Dutch visitor who was photographing Saint Mark’s Basilica with his smartphone. But surveillance, he said, “is even less romantic.”

Still, even grumbling Venetians acknowledge there is an upside to the mayor’s plans.

“I don’t like the idea of being constantly monitored,” said Cristiano Padovese, a waiter at the pumpkin-themed restaurant La Zucca. “But if it can help skim from the tourism, then why not.”

Mr. Padovese, like many residents, complained that Venice has become an amusement park . To them, tourism is an addiction that is driving their friends and family away.

An unregulated proliferation of bed-and-breakfasts and home-shares like those found on Airbnb has made rent unaffordable for locals, and the well-connected tourism sector has suffocated most other economic activities.

The number of residents living in the historic center of the city has plummeted to about 50,000 people, down from more than 170,000 in the 1950s. And in recent days, even as international flights remained limited, those who operate the control room said tourists still outnumbered locals.

Many Venetians who live that reality agree that something needs to change. Some used their time during the pandemic to put forward ideas , including supporting housing for young professionals and start-up entrepreneurs, hoping to attract a highly educated and creative class that could restore the city to its past glory.

That, they say, is very different — and much less invasive — than the vision Mr. Brugnaro is pursuing with his gates project.

Mr. Santuzzo, the artist, said the city’s initiative was either a gimmick or an effort to keep the city reliant on tourists, just wealthier ones who can afford to stay overnight and whose numbers will not be limited by the city.

Local shopkeepers’ associations complain that Venice will be put in a “cage.” And newspapers warn about Venice turning into “an open-air Big Brother.”

“I would feel even more that I live in a city that is not a city,” said Mr. Santuzzo’s sister, Giorgia Santuzzo, 63, who retired from her job at a glass chandelier factory. “Should I make my friends pay when they come visit?”

She might have to. Like the overnight visitors, close relatives of Venetians will be exempt from the entry fee, according to the city’s plan — but not their friends.

Mr. Venturini, the city official, was unapologetic about the charges for day-trippers, calling them low-quality tourists who consume the city for only a couple of hours, then leave garbage behind. (Cleaning up is particularly expensive in a city without cars, where only boats and carts transport refuse.)

To try to speed the mayor’s initiative along, the first models of the gates were delivered recently to the control room for test runs. Still, there is always a chance the plan will be scuttled, as has happened in the past.

Italy’s culture minister, Dario Franceschini, who recently weighed in, called the gates “invasive,” giving those who rely on tourism hope that the plan will fade away.

“When everything reopens, tourists will invade us again,” said Giuseppe Tagliapietra, a gondolier for 43 years. “And we will be happy about it.”

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Locals Protest New Venice Tourist Tax

Posted: June 27, 2024 | Last updated: June 27, 2024

One of the most visited cities in the world is charging an entrance fee for day trips, the first ‘tourist tax’ of its kind.

Venice Entry Fee

On April 25, the historic Italian city of Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for day-tripping visitors. The move has sparked approval from some and outrage in others. 

Access Contribution

The city’s new contributo di accesso, also known as an ‘access contribution’, began charging tourists a 5 euro fee, or $5.40 USD, between 8 am and 4 pm as part of a pilot period to test how well the system will work. 

A City Sinking

The new contribution system is being enacted in the hopes of offsetting the worst effects of tourism on the city. The twin problems of over-tourism and rising sea levels mean that the antique city is now literally sinking into the surrounding waters that have made it so famous.

Pilot Period

Visitors arriving on day trips will be charged daily from April 25 to May 5, with charges then shifting to the weekend only until July 14.

No Charge For Overnight Stays

The fee will not apply to visitors who plan to stay in the city overnight, as they will already pay an overnight tax automatically tacked onto their accommodation costs. 

Other Exemptions

Exemptions will also be given to children under the age of 14, holders of the European Disability Card, Armed Forces, and Law Enforcement Forces personell, those who reside in the Veneto region, and those who were born in Venice. Italians residing outside the Veneto region will also be required to pay. 

Anti-Fee Protests

But even before the new fee was implemented, its announcement sparked anger and protests both in and outside of the city. 

Clashes Between Police and Protestors

On the first day that the fee was introduced, the streets of Venice were filled with protestors condemning the fee and even clashing with police.

Hundreds Gather

Hundreds of people gathered at the entrance point to the city, also known as the Piazzale Roma, and the city’s main train station, carrying signs and banners with words of protest. 

How Much Can It Do?

People who were against the new ‘tourist tax’ claimed that it would do little to alleviate the damage being done to city infrastructure due to the 30 million visitors the city receives each year.

“Doesn’t Stop the Monoculture of Tourism”

“A ticket does nothing. It doesn’t stop the monoculture of tourism,” said Ruggero Tallon, a protest organizer who works with the activist group No Grandi Navi, which campaigns against cruise ships in the region.

“A Medieval Tax”

“It doesn’t ease the pressure on Venice. It’s a medieval tax and it’s against freedom of movement,” he continued. 

Not Facing the Real Problems

Protestors like Tallon believe that overtourism, and the city’s over-reliance on the industry, particularly companies like AirBnb, are the main problems that Venice faces.

A Global Problem

He accused private companies of “doing everything to increase the number of tourists,” which was becoming a global problem, not one specific to Venice.

“The Only Way Forward”

“The only way [forward] is to repopulate the city – we have 49,000 inhabitants and there are more beds for tourists than residents,” he said. “Let’s try to make it possible for people to live here. Every house that’s lived in is a house taken away from tourism.”

Damaging Venice’s Reputation

Other critics claimed it could negatively affect the image and reputation of the city, which has long been one of the most visited areas in the world due to its famous canals, gondoliers, and historic buildings. 

Everyone Is Against It

Another protest leader, Matteo Secchi of the activist group Venessia.com, claimed that “the entire city is against” the fee. 

Turning Venice Into a Theme Park

“You can’t impose an entrance fee to a city; all they’re doing is transforming it into a theme park,” he told reporters. “This is a bad image for Venice … I mean, are we joking?”

Propped Up By Tourism

In fact, some have argued that it is only the enormous influx of tourists that keeps the city propped up. Venice has been steadily losing its permanent population since the 1950s – it has lost 120,000 residents since then, leaving its estimated population at just 50,000 in the historic city area as of 2024. 

Former Mayor Weighs In

Among its critics is former mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, who called the entrance fee “absurd” and encouraged visitors not to pay it on the basis that tourists already “pay for everything” in a public statement.

Tourist Burden

He also noted that tourists pay “three times as much as residents” and are largely responsible for the survival of city restaurant museums. 

A Regulation Strategy

But current mayor Luigi Brugnaro has defended the fee, calling it a potential strategy to help regulate overtourism. “Nobody has ever done anything to regulate tourism and we believed it was necessary to do something,” Brugnaro said in a public statement.

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The post Locals Protest New Venice Tourist Tax  f irst appeared on Thrift My Life.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kirk Fisher.

The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.

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Venice tests a 5-euro entry fee for day-trippers as the Italian city grapples with overtourism

Under the gaze of the world’s media, the fragile lagoon city of Venice launches a pilot program Thursday to charge day-trippers a 5-euro (around $5.35) entry fee that authorities hope will discourage visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more liveable for its dwindling residents. (AP Video by Paolo Santalucia)

Stewards check tourists QR code access outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. The daytripper tax is being tested on 29 days through July, mostly weekends and holidays starting with Italy’s Liberation Day holiday Thursday. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment, while another 70,000 will receive exceptions, for example, because they work in Venice or live in the Veneto region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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Tourists line up to enter at the at St.Mark bell tower in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

A steward shows the QR code access outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. The daytripper tax is being tested on 29 days through July, mostly weekends and holidays starting with Italy’s Liberation Day holiday Thursday. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment, while another 70,000 will receive exceptions, for example, because they work in Venice or live in the Veneto region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Stewards check a tourist QR code access outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. The daytripper tax is being tested on 29 days through July, mostly weekends and holidays starting with Italy’s Liberation Day holiday Thursday. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment, while another 70,000 will receive exceptions, for example, because they work in Venice or live in the Veneto region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Citizens and activists confront police during a demonstration against Venice Tax Fee in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. The daytripper tax is being tested on 29 days through July, mostly weekends and holidays starting with Italy’s Liberation Day holiday Thursday. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment, while another 70,000 will receive exceptions, for example, because they work in Venice or live in the Veneto region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Tourists arrive outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday, April 25, 2024 to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Tourists enjoy a ride on gondolas in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Marco Bettini, director of Venis Informatics System, gestures as he talks to reporters at the police Venice control room, in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday, April 25, 2024 to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Workers prepare the tourist tax cashier desks outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday, April 25, 2024 to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Venice councillor Simone Venturini speaks with reporters in front of a tourist tax totem in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday, April 25, 2024 to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Tourists enjoy a sunny day at St.Mark square in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

A citizen shows a ticket with the writing ‘Veniceland’ during a protest against Venice Tax Fee in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. The daytripper tax is being tested on 29 days through July, mostly weekends and holidays starting with Italy’s Liberation Day holiday Thursday. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment, while another 70,000 will receive exceptions, for example, because they work in Venice or live in the Veneto region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Citizens and activists stage a protest against Venice Tax Fee in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. The daytripper tax is being tested on 29 days through July, mostly weekends and holidays starting with Italy’s Liberation Day holiday Thursday. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment, while another 70,000 will receive exceptions, for example, because they work in Venice or live in the Veneto region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Under the gaze of the world’s media, the fragile lagoon city of Venice launched a pilot program Thursday to charge day-trippers a 5-euro ($5.35) entry fee that authorities hope will discourage visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more livable for its dwindling residents.

Visitors arriving at Venice’s main train station were greeted with large signs listing the 29 dates through July of the plan’s test phase that also designated separate entrances for tourists, and residents, students and workers.

“We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents,’’ said Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official. “We need to safeguard the spaces of the residents, of course, and we need to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.”

Not all residents, however, are persuaded of the efficacy of the new system in dissuading mass tourism , insisting that only a resurgence in the population will restore balance to a city where narrow alleyways and water buses are often clogged with tourists.

Hundreds of Venetians protested against the program, marching festively though the city’s main bus terminal behind banners reading “No to Tickets, Yes to Services and Housing.” Protesters scuffled briefly with police with riot gear who blocked them from entering the city, before changing course and entering over another bridge escorted by plainclothes police officers. The demonstration wrapped up peacefully in a piazza.

Tourists arriving at the main station encountered almost as many journalists as stewards on hand to politely guide anyone unaware of the new requirements through the process of downloading the QR code to pay the fee.

Arianna Cecilia, a tourist from Rome visiting Venice for the first time, said she thought it was “strange” to have to pay to enter a city in her native country, and be funneled through separate entrance ways for tourists. She and her boyfriend were staying in nearby Treviso, and so downloaded the QR code as required. But she was still caught off-guard while soaking in her first view ever of Venice’s canals by the sight of the entrance signs and her boyfriend telling her to get out the ticket.

On the other side of the entrance ways, workers in yellow vests carried out random checks at the train station. Transgressors face fines of 50 to 300 euros ($53 to $320), but officials said “common sense” was being applied for the launch.

The requirement applies only for people arriving between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Outside of those hours, access is free and unchecked.

Tourists take pictures at the St. Mark square in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Venice has long suffered under the pressure of overtourism, and officials hope that the pilot project can help provide more exact figures to better manage the phenomenon.

The city can track the number of hotel visitors, which last year numbered 4.6 million and is down 16% from pre-pandemic highs. But the number of day visitors, which make up the majority of the crowds in Venice, could only be estimated until recently.

A Smart Control Room set up during the pandemic has been tracking arrivals from cellphone data, roughly confirming pre-pandemic estimates of 25 million to 30 million arrivals a year, said Michele Zuin, the city’s top economic official. That includes both day-trippers and overnight guests.

But Zuin said the data is incomplete.

“It’s clear we will get more reliable data from the contribution” being paid by day-trippers, he said.

Venturini said the city is strained when the number of day-trippers reaches 30,000 to 40,000. On peak days, local police set up one-way traffic for pedestrians to keep the crowds moving.

Residents opposing the day-tripper tax insist that the solution to Venice’s woes are to boost the resident population and the services they need, limiting short-term rentals to make available more housing and attract families back from the mainland.

Last year, Venice passed a telling milestone when the number of tourist beds exceeded for the first time the number of official residents, which is now below 50,000 in the historic center with its picturesque canals.

“Putting a ticket to enter a city will not decrease not even by one single unit the number of visitors that are coming,’’ said Tommaso Cacciari, an activist who organized a protest Thursday against the measure.

“You pay a ticket to take the metro, to go to a museum, an amusement park. You don’t pay a ticket to enter a city. This is the last symbolic step of a project of an idea of this municipal administration to kick residents out of Venice,” he said.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro declared the launch day, coinciding with an Italian holiday, a success, registering 15,700 paying visitors, 50% more than anticipated.

More than 97,000 others had downloaded a QR code denoting an exemption, including to work in Venice or as a resident of the Veneto region. Hotels in Venice, including in mainland districts like Marghera or Mestre, provided a QR code for visitors to attest to their stay, which includes a hotel tax — accounting for 40,000 of those.

Venturini, the tourist official, said that interest in Venice’s pilot program has been keen from other places suffering from mass tourism, including other Italian art cities, and municipalities abroad such as Barcelona, Spain, and Amsterdam.

But Marina Rodino, who has lived in Venice for 30 years, doesn’t see the fee as the cure-all. Neighboring apartments in her residential building near the famed Rialto Bridge once inhabited by families are now short-term apartment rentals.

The corner butcher shop closed. Yet she noted that the new entrance fee requirement will still allow young people to flood the city in the evening for the traditional aperitivo, which can grow rowdy.

She was passing out mock European Union passports for “Venice, Open City,” underlining the irony of the new system, and challenging its legal standing with citations from the Italian Constitution guaranteeing its citizens the right to “move or reside freely in any part of the national territory.”

“This is not a natural oasis. This is not a museum. It is not Pompeii. It is a city, where we need to fight so the houses are inhabited by families, and stores reopen. That is what would counter this wild tourism,’’ Rodino said.

Parkour group damages historic Italian building in failed stunt

Team Phat’s stunt in Matera ended with a stone falling off a historic site and the jumper injuring himself. It comes as scrutiny of traveler behavior increases worldwide.

Key takeaways

Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.

• The stunt in Matera ended with a stone falling off a historic site and the jumper injuring himself.
• Matera is thought to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
• Video of the stunt has sparked outrage.

Did our AI help? Share your thoughts.

The city of Matera in southern Italy is thought to be among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its stone-made buildings lie atop a hill above a ravine, while its millennia-old cave dwellings helped make Matera a UNESCO World Heritage site .

Because of its history, the city has attracted attention from adventurers and Hollywood: Scenes from Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” were filmed there, as were parts of Patty Jenkins’s “Wonder Woman.”

But Matera recently attracted attention of a different kind, after a London-based parkour group performed stunts there — and damaged a historic building in the process.

The stunt comes amid increasing scrutiny of the toll of human activity — from tourists to influencers, street artists and athletes — on historic cities and monuments. Many cities have put in place measures to curb overtourism , while some have banned visitors from certain hot spots because of reports of bad behavior.

In Matera, the traceurs — the name of those who practice parkour, which consists of jumping, running, climbing and more to travel across structures — recorded themselves performing a stunt on a building and causing a protruding stone to fall off.

“Hide the evidence,” a voice behind the camera can be heard instructing a member of the team in a video published in April by the globe-trotting parkour group Team Phat.

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Giuseppe Camporeale, a spokesperson in the office of the mayor of Matera, said in an email that the city was alerted and is “aware of the issue.” “Technicians are checking the building, so actions will be taken based on their reports,” he added.

Neither UNESCO nor Team Phat responded to requests for comment from The Washington Post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by PHAT (@team_phat)

Team Phat previously claimed responsibility for a stunt in Venice in which a man threw himself off a building into a canal — prompting the mayor to call him an “idiot” and vow to arrest him. The group later said it received a fine and was banned from the city.

In the 23-minute long version of the video filmed in Matera , a member of Team Phat can be heard saying, “We’ve been banned from Venice, so we can never go back. So, we’ve come to the closest thing to it.”

The video shows the traceurs performing stunts across Matera. Eventually, one of them can be heard suggesting to Devon McIntosh, a member of the team, that he use a stone jutting from the side of a building to launch himself to another rooftop.

“It’s stable enough that you can just hang on it, but I’m scared it could just break,” the person can be heard telling McIntosh. “You’re a bit lighter than me, so it might be more of a you challenge. … Get ready to jump.”

In the video, McIntosh first successfully jumps on the stone and launches himself from it onto the opposite rooftop. Two others are then filmed doing the same jump, with one appearing to linger on the stone. Then, the footage shows McIntosh doing the jump again — and the stone gives away under his feet, while he plummets to the ground. He exclaims to the camera that he hurt his ankle, and later shows what appear to be injuries on his thigh and elbow.

“We were really trusting that thing too much,” he says.

A clip of the stunt, which has been viewed 2.4 million times since it was posted on Instagram two weeks ago, sparked angry reactions online, with many users commenting that parkour should be practiced with more care for the surrounding environment.

“Even if the spots are crazy Matera should not be used as a parkour park, that stone could have been there before the discovery of America or even earlier,” wrote one commenter, who said he is Italian and practices parkour.

“It was really wrong to break that rock that likely had a lot of history and pride for the owners and original builders,” another commenter said.

As travel has become more affordable and accessible, reports of bad behavior from visitors have increased. Last year, the manager of a villa in northern Italy said a 150-year-old statue toppled over and shattered after German tourists tried to take a picture with it, according to Reuters. In 2022, a Saudi visitor drove a Maserati down the world-famous Spanish Steps in Rome, damaging them, according to police; two weeks later, an American tourist threw an electric scooter down the Spanish Steps, causing about $27,000 in damage.

People have also been criticized for using monuments as sports arenas. In 2021, a Singaporean man was charged with willfully interfering with a national monument after he wakeboarded at a war memorial in the city state, according to the Straits Times.

After traveling to over 40 countries, I have no plans to return to these 4 places around the globe

• After traveling to over 40 countries, there are a few places that I'm not in a rush to return to .
• Although I loved traveling to Venice, I'd rather explore different places in Italy next time.
• I also thought Phuket was gorgeous, but would prefer other options for a beach vacation  in Thailand.

When traveling, I always try to approach each destination with an open mind and a desire to experience the culture, meet the locals, see the guidebook recommendations , and get off the beaten path whenever possible.

More and more people are choosing to travel in 2024 — a record number of about 15.9 million Americans have already traveled internationally in the first quarter of the year — and I'm on the same page.

I've been lucky enough to visit more than 40 countries and have traveled to six of the seven continents. Although I'd love to revisit some of my favorite places that have made an indelible impact on me, not all destinations have left me with the same desire to return.

Of the places I've visited so far, these are the ones I probably won't return to.

I loved Los Angeles, but one visit was enough.

Growing up in Australia, I dreamed of visiting Hollywood — the place where so many movies are made. When I was 14, my mom said she was taking me to Los Angeles , and I thought I was the luckiest kid on the planet.

Beforehand, we spent a few weeks road-tripping around Mexico, checking out the Mayan ruins, eating local cuisine, and going to dance parties on the beach. When we arrived in Los Angeles, it didn't have the same allure as Mexico did for me.

We had a wonderful time exploring the movie studios, walking along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and driving by celebrity homes. But once I'd seen LA, I didn't feel the need to go back.

I actually did end up returning with my husband when we were in our 20s, as he was keen to tick off those experiences, too. But he felt the same way I did — there are other places we'd rather revisit.

Monaco was glitzy and glamorous, but it just wasn’t my kind of place.

When we were in southern France, we decided to take a day trip to Monte Carlo, Monaco. My husband was desperate to see the Monaco Grand Prix , so I spent the day exploring the city with his mom while he and his dad checked out the Formula 1 race.

Walking around Monte Carlo, we were blown away by the opulence, which isn't surprising, considering it's ranked one of the top cities in the world on a wealth-per-capita basis . I don't think I've ever seen so many luxurious yachts or flashy cars.

The gardens were perfectly manicured and the streets were spotlessly clean. However, it just wasn't my kind of destination.

We were constantly surrounded by wealth but I prefer visiting places where I can interact with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

I’m glad I’ve seen Venice, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Venice is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. Built on a group of islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea, there really is nowhere else like it in the world. The absence of cars gives it a particular charm, and it almost feels like the buildings are floating on water.

I traveled to Venice on a European vacation with my now husband when I was 23 years old. We splurged on a gondola ride through the canals and marveled at the Renaissance and Gothic architecture. In Piazza San Marco, we bought an overpriced ice cream and checked out St Mark's Basilica.

Venice is definitely worth putting on your bucket list, especially considering it's predicted to sink as soon as 2100 . However, it's probably not the kind of place I'd visit multiple times because I found it to be crowded and expensive.

If I go back to Italy, there are other places I'd like to see, such as Lake Como.

Phuket is beautiful, but I'd rather explore other areas of Thailand.

Phuket is home to some of Thailand's most popular beaches, seaside resorts, restaurants, and bars, making it somewhat of a tourist hot spot.

When I was 17, my parents took me there for a weeklong vacation, and we stayed in a resort in Patong. Although it was fun swimming in the resort pool and parasailing around the bay, I didn't leave wanting to return.

On return trips to Thailand , I've found other places I've enjoyed more. For example, I loved Krabi, a province in southern Thailand known for its limestone cliffs and sandy beaches. It was less crowded than Phuket and, in my opinion, much prettier.

• Main content

2 women are brutally attacked on Venice Canals, forcing debate on crime, homelessness

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Mary Klein wanted to get in 3,000 more steps.

It was around 10:30 p.m., and the longtime Venice resident and sculptor — who had just finished up at work caring for an elderly couple — hadn’t reached her daily goal of 10,000.

She headed to the canals, parked along Strongs Drive and started to walk. But soon after, she said, she felt someone’s presence behind her. Then everything went black.

About an hour later, another woman was attacked a few hundred feet away.

Police say Anthony Francisco Jones, 29, committed both assaults. He was arrested in San Diego days later.

That night of violence — with its brutality and seeming lack of a motive — has shaken the community. Many had always felt the tourist destination with multimillion-dollar homes perched along the waterways was safe, even when walking alone at night.

But even though violent crime in Venice is down, the fact that police say the suspect is a transient man has heightened years of debate about the neighborhood’s problems with its unhoused population.

Court documents reviewed by The Times reveal the disturbing details of the night of April 6.

Surveillance video from a home in the 2700 block of Strongs Drive captured the assault on Klein. The video — which prosecutors described in a document requesting that Jones be held without bail — shows a man dragging Klein’s body to the gate of a house. He was wearing a light-colored jacket, Nike shoes and a polo shirt.

The man is then seen in the video sexually assaulting Klein, who was unconscious, for about seven minutes. After the assault, he stands, pulls his pants up, kicks Klein and walks away.

The Times does not normally identify victims of sexual assault, but Klein, 55, agreed to share her story.

Prosecutors say Jones is the man in the video — and that the violence was far from over.

A few minutes later, the same assailant, according to authorities, is seen returning to the area where Klein was still on the ground.

He briefly stands over her body before again leaving.

For the next 20 minutes, Klein repeatedly tries to sit up. “Never is she fully able to get onto her feet,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Matthew Bunnett wrote in the court filing.

Klein’s attacker returned a second time and is seen in the video kicking her in the head “with full force” as she was sitting up. As she lay on the ground, he stood on top of her head with both feet before finally leaving the scene.

Prosecutors say Klein tried for nearly an hour “getting up and then sitting back down before she walks away.”

Three of Klein’s front teeth were knocked out in the attack. She now has plates and screws in her face. She’s on blood thinners because her brain is still bleeding. She’s suffered seizures and numbness in her hands.

The day after the attack, residents found a pool of blood, earbuds, ChapStick, eyeglasses and the neck of a bottle of Maker’s Mark whiskey outside their home, prosecutors said. Because no crime had been reported there, Los Angeles police told them to throw the items away.

But the Los Angeles Police Department had received reports of an attack nearby.

An hour after Klein’s assault was captured on video, police were called to the 200 block of Sherman Canal by someone who had found a “bloody and unresponsive woman.”

LAPD officers found Sarah Alden on the ground in front of a residential gate. She was lying face down, breathing heavily but unresponsive, and her head was bloodied. Her shirt was wrenched up, and her pants were around her ankles. There was a large pool of blood about 120 feet away.

“The trail appears consistent with [Alden] being dragged,” Bunnett wrote in court papers.

Police found Alden’s cellphone near the blood pool. Her purse was found in the canal.

The assault left Alden, 53, in a coma for more than a month. She was declared brain dead and died May 24 after being disconnected from life support.

Alden was passionate about jewelry and sold her items at Roseark, a jewelry store in West Hollywood, her son Llewellyn Liversidge said. She was from Massachusetts but had always loved L.A. and was planning to sign a yearlong lease to stay in the city, according to her son and close friends.

“She loved the climate, how beautiful it is, how fun it is, how many things there are to do. How lovely and sweet everyone is,” Liversidge said.

The search for a suspect in Alden’s attack connected it to Klein’s within two days.

Police and business owners sifted through dozens of hours of surveillance video, hoping to track the distinctly dressed man seen attacking Klein. Darrell Preston watched hours of video from one of his restaurants, Baja Cantina, located near the canals. Eventually he spotted the same man, who had approached numerous women in the area that day.

When Preston realized the man had shown an ID at another of his restaurants, he knew he had something helpful for police — a name.

Five days after the attacks, on April 11, Jones was apprehended. He has been charged with two counts of forcible rape, murder, attempted murder, mayhem, torture and sodomy by use of force. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jones has a criminal record — a DUI and open container conviction from Oklahoma City in 2016 as well as a conviction for possession of a false ID card and an undated arrest in Las Vegas for trespassing, according to court documents seeking his detention without bail. He does not have a documented violent past, and authorities are still trying to understand the seeming randomness of the attacks he is accused of committing.

“It’s surprising for someone to commit crimes of that ferocity who does not have a violent background,” said a high-ranking LAPD official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case. “There’s usually a crescendo to these things.”

Jones’ attorney, Donna Tryfman, declined to comment on the case.

For Klein, the attack remains vague. She doesn’t remember being struck, just waking up afterward. She reported the attack two days later, according to prosecutors.

Doctors told her she suffered a traumatic brain injury.

When she finally was able to pick herself up off the ground, she said, she thought: “Huh, I don’t feel so good.”

“I knew I’d been knocked out by something, but I didn’t know what,” Klein said. “I just picked myself up and went home,” where she laid down on the couch and fell asleep.

As time has passed and Klein’s physical injuries have begun to heal, she’s become frustrated. She feels the attacks are emblematic of an issue no one wants to address: the mental health and drug crisis among the unhoused residents of Venice.

“It’s not like they’re horrible people,” Klein said. “It’s just we need to stop being in denial about our family members and our community members who are in desperate need of mental health help — especially those who are really struggling on the streets.”

It’s unclear if Jones lived in a Venice encampment or has mental health problems. Authorities do not know what brought him to the canals that night.

Although Venice has long been a destination for wanderers, the tenor has changed dramatically in the last few decades, according to many residents, some of whom previously lived on the streets.

In 2021, LAPD and outreach workers cleared 200 people from an encampment on the boardwalk. Those displaced were offered permanent apartments, spots in hotels used as shelters or shelter addresses.

Brian Averill, president of the Venice Neighborhood Council, advocated for the dismantling of the boardwalk encampment, which had disturbed vendors and tourists. Three years later, the homeless population remains a problem, he said.

In 2022, the city counted slightly less than 1,000 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in Venice, a 50% decrease from 2020. (That report, from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, was criticized after it failed to count any homeless people in the northwest census tract of Venice known as ground zero of homelessness.)

Much of the angst in the neighborhood revolves around homeless housing.

One flash point is A Bridge Home, a temporary city-run shelter where Venice residents say crime runs rampant. After it opened in February 2020, violent crime increased 88% in nine months.

When the shelter was proposed in 2018 — part of an initiative by then-L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti — Venice residents erupted in anger, arguing that it would encourage other homeless people to gravitate to the area.

The shelter, at Main Street and Sunset Avenue, houses more than 100 residents but is set to close around the end of the year. The city said it is working to identify alternative housing, either temporary or permanent, for those living there.

Equally controversial is the construction of the Venice Dell Project, a planned 140-unit apartment complex on a city-owned plot along Venice Boulevard between Dell and Pacific avenues that would provide affordable housing as well as supportive housing — with resources such as education and employment services — for people who have experienced homelessness. Many residents, including Averill, oppose the project.

“I think it’s fear of the unknown,” said Becky Dennison, co-executive director of Venice Community Housing, the developer behind the project. “Will we maintain the buildings? What will happen if there’s problems? In this case, there’s been some fear spreading around people with mental illness.”

Although a high-ranking LAPD official said crime is down in Venice, that is not necessarily the perception.

“There’s often a schism between what the numbers show and how people feel,” the official said.

Dennison too said those fears are largely unfounded, noting that the Venice Dell building will be staffed 24/7 with four property managers and case managers for tenants.

Still, construction has been tied up in litigation and City Council approval for more than seven years. The developers have succeeded in two lawsuits and hope to secure permits and begin work as soon as possible.

Dennison points to the Rose Apartments, a smaller development with 30 or so units on Rose Avenue.

Rose resident Aanti Sumaiyya, who is almost 70, has lived in Venice on and off for decades. She said she ran a sober social club and converted to Islam before falling on hard times, including drug addiction.

She was chronically homeless for 25 years and was living on the boardwalk when two police officers helped her get off the street and into A Bridge Home in 2020.

“It literally saved my life,” said Sumaiyya, who moved to Rose Apartments in 2022 when it opened.

Mason Lum, 25, also spent time at A Bridge Home but had a different experience.

Lum moved to L.A. from Virginia with his brother seven years ago and quickly became homeless.

Venice residents routinely called police on Lum to keep him from sleeping outside their homes, he said.

At A Bridge Home, Lum said, one man walked around naked all the time. Others constantly challenged Lum to fights. Eventually, his case manager helped him get on the wait list for Rose Apartments, where he moved in 2022.

Dennison said she had hoped the closure of the shelter would coincide with the opening of the Venice Dell Project. But it’s far from complete. So at least some residents from A Bridge Home probably will go back onto the streets of Venice when it closes, further contributing to residents’ fears.

Lum said he fears that the Venice attacks will only worsen local perceptions about homeless people.

“All you see is people talking about this is why we need to end homelessness,” he said. “I think that’s just their perception of homelessness that needs to change.”

Klein said she wants to see the homeless population helped — even after her attack.

“We need to take care of them and help them rather than discard them and ignore them, because that’s why all this crime is happening — we’re ignoring the extreme mental health crisis going on in our streets,” she said.

Until the issue is dealt with, Klein told The Times, she plans to carry pepper spray and is considering getting a dog for more protection. But she says she is not going to let what happened to her alter her life. She still walks the canals.

“At any time things can happen to anyone,” she said. “If you live your life in fear, you’re not living a life.”

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Noah Goldberg covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. He worked previously in New York City as the Brooklyn courts reporter for the New York Daily News, covering major criminal trials as well as working on enterprise stories. Before that, he was the criminal justice reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle.

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Sustainable Travel: Explore Eco-Friendly Tourism Options

At its core, sustainable travel goes beyond the mere logistics of a journey. It is a conscientious commitment to tread lightly, recognizing the intricate interplay between environmental preservation, social responsibility, and economic vitality. It is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in the way we engage with the world.

As our world continues to grapple with the complexities of environmental sustainability, the realm of travel and tourism stands at a crossroads. No longer just a leisure pursuit, the way we traverse the globe has profound implications for our planet, its diverse ecosystems, and the cultures that call it home. This paradigm shift has given rise to the concept of sustainable travel, a transformative approach that seeks to harmonize exploration with responsible practices.

In this era of heightened environmental awareness, the significance of integrating sustainability into the fabric of travel and tourism cannot be overstated. The allure of travel destinations must now coexist with a responsibility to safeguard the delicate balance of our planet. From the bustling streets of metropolises to the untouched serenity of remote landscapes, every travel choice we make ripples through ecosystems and communities alike.

A Global Perspective of Sustainability in Travel & Tourism

“In the past thirty to forty years, the travel industry has witnessed a remarkable evolution. Improved transportation has made it more accessible for people to traverse the globe, leading to a surge in tourism to both iconic and off-the-beaten-path destinations,” says Joseph Scarcelli, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at York College of Pennsylvania. However, this surge has brought about its own set of challenges, with some locations becoming overwhelmed and struggling to maintain their cultural and environmental integrity.

Amidst these challenges, shining examples of successful sustainability initiatives have emerged. Destinations that have strategically embraced eco-friendly practices are demonstrating that responsible tourism is not just an ethical choice but also a viable and profitable one. From imposing limits on tourist numbers, as seen in the preservation efforts at Machu Picchu, to leveraging technology for sustainable travel planning, the industry is witnessing a shift towards more mindful and considerate exploration.

The COVID-19 pandemic, while devastating in many aspects, has acted as a reset button for the tourism industry. Popular tourist hubs, previously overwhelmed, experienced a hiatus, allowing ecosystems to recover and prompting a reevaluation of strategies. Cities like Venice, once struggling with murky canals and overcrowding, saw a momentary reprieve during lockdowns, providing a glimpse of what a more sustainable tourist experience could look like. “The [Venice] canals became clear blue to the extent dolphins started swimming in them,” Dr. Scarcelli adds. Venice has taken proactive steps, implementing daily visitor fees to control the influx and generate revenue for local maintenance. 

Sustainable tourism is more than a moral imperative; it’s a vehicle for economic prosperity. “Most of the major hotel or major hotel companies – [like the Marriott and Hilton] – and restaurant companies have adopted a triple-bottom line philosophy — people, profits, planet,” explains Frederick W. Becker, Ph. D., Director and Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at York College of Pennsylvania . This reflects an understanding that financial success is intricately tied to environmental and cultural responsibility. Sustainable tourism becomes a triple multiplier effect, benefiting local economies, preserving cultural traditions, and safeguarding natural heritage.

Eco-Friendly Tourism

What is eco-friendly tourism.

Eco-friendly tourism, synonymous with sustainable tourism, is a conscious and intentional approach to travel that seeks to minimize the negative impact on the environment, respect local cultures, and contribute to the well-being of communities. “Eco-tourism can also be defined as tourist experiences that produce the smallest carbon footprint, so eco-tourism may be focused more on the people and planet parts of the equation,” Dr. Becker adds. It involves making choices that prioritize conservation, sustainable resource use, and ethical engagement throughout the travel experience.

In response to the growing awareness of the ecological footprint left by tourism, eco-friendly practices encompass a spectrum of decisions made by travelers, from transportation choices and accommodation preferences to the activities they partake in and the products they consume.

Importance of Eco-Friendly Practices for Travelers

The importance of eco-friendly practices for travelers extends beyond individual choices; it is a collective responsibility that shapes the sustainability of the entire industry. Travelers are urged to perceive themselves not merely as spectators but as stewards of the places they visit. It is a call to acknowledge that the world is not a movie set but someone's home, and the landscapes are not just picturesque backdrops but living ecosystems.

Respecting local realities becomes paramount. Eco-friendly practices involve behaving in a manner that is culturally sensitive, avoiding disruptive and disrespectful behavior, and making choices that align with the principles of conservation. It is about recognizing that every traveler plays a role in shaping the narratives of the places they visit.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Tourism for Local Communities and the Environment

The benefits of eco-friendly tourism radiate far beyond the personal satisfaction of responsible travel. Local communities, often the custodians of unique cultures and traditions, stand to gain significantly from sustainable practices. When travelers make conscious choices to support local businesses, engage in culturally enriching experiences, and minimize their environmental impact, the economic benefits circulate within the community.

Moreover, the environment itself is a direct beneficiary of eco-friendly tourism. Reduced carbon footprints, responsible waste management, and the preservation of natural habitats contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. In destinations vulnerable to climate change and over-tourism, eco-friendly practices act as a shield, offering a sustainable model that allows both the environment and communities to thrive.

How to Plan Trips with Sustainability in Mind

Tips for responsible traveling.

• Cultural Respect: “Acknowledge that destinations are more than tourist spots; they are homes and daily realities for local residents,” Dr. Scarcelli emphasizes. Show respect for customs, traditions, and local communities.
• Mindful Behavior : Travel responsibly by avoiding disruptive behavior, refraining from disrespectful photography, and understanding the cultural and environmental sensitivities of the places visited.

Choosing Eco-Friendly Accommodations

• Beyond Comfort : Opt for accommodations committed to sustainability. Look for eco-friendly certifications, energy-efficient practices, and initiatives that support local communities.
• Green Initiatives : Many establishments adopt green room initiatives, such as linen laundering only upon request, to reduce water usage and energy consumption.

Reducing Carbon Footprint Through Transportation Choices

• Thoughtful Transport : Minimize air travel when possible, opting for more sustainable modes such as trains or buses. Embrace eco-friendly transportation services and consider the environmental impact of your chosen mode of travel.
• Eco-Friendly Vehicles : Choose transportation providers that prioritize sustainability, whether through fuel-efficient vehicles or electric options.

Supporting Local Communities

• Community Engagement : Contribute positively to the destinations visited by supporting local businesses, engaging in cultural experiences that benefit communities directly, and respecting the rights and traditions of the people.
• Economic Impact: Sustainable tourism is not just about minimizing negative impacts; it's also about actively contributing to the economic well-being of local communities. “Too often travelers make decisions based on price rather than variables like sustainable practices. Issues of price and location often take precedence when leisure travelers are making travel decisions,” says Dr. Becker.

Minimizing Waste and Plastic Usage

• Reusable Practices : Carry reusable items, say no to single-use plastics, and participate in local initiatives such as beach clean-ups or community recycling programs.
• Waste Reduction : Make conscious choices to minimize the environmental footprint of your travel, leaving destinations as pristine as you found them.

The Role of Technology in Sustainable Travel Planning

• Digital Solutions : Leverage technology for sustainable travel planning. Use apps and platforms that provide information on eco-friendly accommodations, carbon footprint calculators, and other tools for informed decision-making.
• Smart Choices : Embrace technology to enhance your travel experience while ensuring your choices align with sustainable practices.

Challenges and Barriers to Sustainable Travel

Common obstacles and misconceptions.

• Limited Awareness: Many travelers remain unaware of the environmental and cultural impact of their choices, leading to unintentional unsustainable practices.
• Affordability Concerns : There is a common misconception that sustainable travel options are more expensive. Travelers may be deterred by the perceived higher costs associated with eco-friendly accommodations and responsible tourism. “The more the traveling public demands sustainable travel options, the more options there will be,” Dr. Beckers explains — serve as cause for offsetting costs.
• Inconsistent Standards : The lack of standardized criteria for sustainable travel makes it challenging for travelers to identify genuinely eco-friendly options and hold businesses accountable.
• Resistance to Change : Some travelers may resist altering their habits or sacrificing convenience for the sake of sustainability.

Solutions to Sustainable Travel Challenges

• Education and Awareness Campaigns: Implementing comprehensive awareness campaigns can enlighten travelers about the environmental and social impact of their choices, fostering a sense of responsibility.
• Financial Incentives: Governments and organizations can provide financial incentives for businesses and travelers engaging in sustainable practices, making eco-friendly options more accessible.
• Certification Programs : Establishing and promoting clear certification programs for sustainable travel ensures transparency and helps travelers make informed decisions.
• Collaborative Initiatives: Collaborations between governments, businesses, and non-profits can create a unified front for sustainable tourism, addressing challenges collectively.

Overcoming Barriers: Real-Life Examples:

• Costa Rica's Sustainable Tourism Model: Costa Rica successfully shifted its tourism model towards sustainability by promoting eco-friendly accommodations, wildlife conservation, and community engagement. The country's commitment has led to increased biodiversity and positive economic outcomes.
• Airbnb's Green Hosting Program: Airbnb's Green Hosting Program encourages hosts to adopt sustainable practices. This initiative includes guidelines for eco-friendly hosting, promoting responsible water and energy usage.
• The Circular Economy in Accommodations: Some hotels have embraced the circular economy by repurposing materials, reducing waste, and sourcing locally. This not only benefits the environment but also enhances the cultural authenticity of the accommodations. “We should help people maintain their way of life; not destroy it,” Dr. Becker explains.
• Community-Led Tourism Initiatives: Examples of community-led tourism initiatives, such as homestays and local tours, empower communities to actively participate in and benefit from tourism while preserving their cultural heritage.

Understanding Your Role as a Sustainable Traveler

The journey toward sustainable travel is more than a mere exploration; it's a commitment to preserving our planet's treasures and cultures. As we reflect on the significance of sustainable travel, it becomes evident that every decision made during our journeys holds the power to create a positive impact. “You cannot become sustainable overnight,” Dr. Scarcelli emphasizes. From the preservation of fragile ecosystems to the nurturing of diverse cultural heritage, each traveler becomes a steward of the destinations they visit.

Embracing eco-friendly tourism options is a collective responsibility. By choosing accommodations that prioritize sustainability, opting for responsible transportation, and engaging with local communities in respectful ways, travelers contribute to the flourishing of both natural wonders and human traditions.

As we consider the future of travel and tourism, it is crucial to recognize the pivotal role each traveler plays. Beyond being mere spectators, travelers are architects of the evolving narrative of sustainable exploration. By making mindful choices and fostering a deep respect for the environments and cultures they encounter, travelers become ambassadors for a more harmonious and sustainable future.

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Visit Oslo’s Ironic New Ad Goes Viral Asking: ‘Is it Even a City?’

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

June 25th, 2024 at 9:53 AM EDT

Oslo doesn't take the typical smiling local approach in its new tourism ad. It instead uses dry Nordic humor to promote Oslo's unique appeal.

Dawit Habtemariam

“I wouldn’t come here.” That’s the opening of a new ad from from Visit Oslo that promotes the relative ease of Norway’s capital as a tourist destination.

“Everything is just so available.” A 31-year-old local shares that there are no lines at museums, no waits at restaurants.

He tells you everything that’s wrong with Oslo – while sharing exactly what makes it unique and beautiful. “The inspiration for the ad is Oslo’s position as an underdog as far as city break destinations go, both in Europe and in the Nordics,” said Anne-Signe Fagereng, director of marketing for Visit Oslo. 

It’s an appealing message, especially now. The world’s most popular tourist destinations are currently experiencing a boom, with some like Japan , Venice and Barcelona being struck with overtourism.

“The fact that it’s not as famous and crowded as some other capital cities is something we should start highlighting as a benefit,” said Fagereng.

Some of the Norwegian capital’s most famous attractions are Akershus Fortress, the Nobel Peace Center and the Norwegian Maritime Museum.

In 2021, the city opened a museum dedicated to artist Edvard Munch. In 2022, it opened a National Museum. The Museum of the Viking Age is coming in 2027.

“Oslo has been through an incredibly positive transformation over the last few decades, so it’s time our confidence in our capital catches up with reality. Our protagonist Halfdan is obviously not quite there though!” she said.

Oslo saw an upsurge in international arrivals this past quarter. International arrivals in the Norwegian capital are up 26% from 2019 levels, according to ForwardKeys. When Skift’s founder and CEO Rafat Ali shared the video on X, it received 1 million views on the first day thanks to viral reshares.

This type of creativity is rare in tourism ads these days, most of which blend into each other. This is different, a typical understated Norse sense of dry humor. From @VisitOSLO . Well done, more needed in this series. pic.twitter.com/Zc7RcsHdNi — Rafat Ali, Media Operator & Dad (@rafat) June 24, 2024

Zero Excited Oslo Local s

The ad incorporates the dry humor Nordic countries are known for. Last year, Visit Sweden launched a campaign ad reminding viewers to stop confusing it with Switzerland. In 2021, Visit Iceland launched an ad that parodied the Metaverse .

Most tourism ads feature locals talking about what they love about their destination with a big smile, which can sometimes be taken as disingenuous and insincere. In contrast, the actor in the ad talks about Oslo in a somber tone and doesn’t crack a smile.

“There are so many wonderful destinations in the world and a lot of pretty ads for them, but to stand out we really needed a different and more creative approach,” said Fagereng.

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Tags: destination markeing , norway , oslo , tourism

Manchester Airport 'hoping to run entirely scheduled operation' after travel chaos

The airport said on Sunday it was "in the process of resuming operations" and flights scheduled for today "should be unaffected".

Monday 24 June 2024 03:12, UK

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Flights are departing from Manchester Airport's two main terminals after a "major power cut" caused travel chaos for passengers.

The airport said in a post on X on Sunday afternoon that it was "in the process of resuming operations" and flights scheduled for today "should be unaffected".

Earlier on Sunday, the facility had said all flights from Terminals 1 and 2 were cancelled "until further notice" and passengers were advised not to come to the site.

Travellers due to fly from Terminal 3 were largely unaffected.

It was understood the power outage hit the airport only, after it was initially thought to have affected a wider surrounding area.

Passengers already inside the airport faced huge delays, with images showing huge queues of people.

There were instances where some people's baggage was not on flights.

Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport's managing director, apologised for the chaos, saying a "fault with a cable had caused a power surge that took down security systems and baggage screening".

He stated "about 20% of our flights have been cancelled so far", adding: "Tomorrow (Monday) we are very much hoping to run an entirely scheduled operation."

Mr Woodroofe said an investigation into what happened was set to take place.

Holidaymaker Lindsay Mitchell was hopeful she and her family would be able to fly to Turkey later on Sunday for a trip that had been planned for a year.

She was due to go with her husband, daughter, son, her son's girlfriend, her daughter's boyfriend, her nieces, her sister, and her two granddaughters.

Ms Mitchell told Sky News: "We were advised this morning not to travel to Manchester Airport but we'd thought we'd chance it as our flight's not until teatime, fingers crossed."

She added: "You have got to make the best of a bad situation. It's not the airline's fault, it's not Manchester Airport's fault, it's no one's fault, it's just one of those freaky things that happen in everyday life."

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Another passenger, Hayden Lewis, said his flight to the Greek island of Skiathos was cancelled after he was in the airport for about five hours.

He later went to Birmingham Airport after being dropped off by his father and was hopeful of getting to his holiday destination.

Mr Lewis told Sky News: "Our flight got cancelled after being in the airport for about five hours. Left with no idea when they [the airline] could get us there, so we have taken it into our own hands and are now in Birmingham Airport going to the right destination.

"We were going to Skiathos for nine nights. We travelled from Halifax to Manchester. We are now in Birmingham thanks to my dad who collected us from Manchester and dropped us in Birmingham. All because easyJet don't know when they could get us back out but want us to keep checking the app (along with the thousands of others)."

A number of arriving flights were forced to divert to other airports.

One Singapore Airlines flight arriving from Houston in Texas had to go to London Heathrow while another, which came in from Singapore, was forced to land at London Gatwick.

An Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport was diverted to Birmingham Airport.

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• Greater Manchester