Venetian complains about cheap tourists and demands daily fee of 100 euros
Venice is plagued by mass tourism; according to one businessman, vacationers spend too little money in the city. He believes the tourist tax should be raised.
Many travelers want to see sights and places on vacation, but they don't always spend a lot of money in the cities. This is the case in Venice, for example, if you believe businesspeople. "There's a total explosion of overtourism like never before, with people wandering around without entering shops," Setrak Tokatzian, jeweler and chairman of the St. Mark's Square businessmen, told the Italian daily newspaper " Corriere del Veneto ."
As a consequence, he told the newspaper that the tourist tax for day visitors should be increased to 100 euros per day.
Some travelers aren't going into shops. Tokatzian also saw "several families sharing a pasta dish or a drink," according to "Corriere del Veneto." Vacationers are more likely to queue at the fountain for water than buy a bottle, " T-Online " quotes. Likewise, they continue to avoid buying anything – which is detrimental to businesses.
Bruno Barel, the first procurator of St. Mark's Basilica, for example, opposes the demand for a 100-euro daily fee. He argues that the city is democratic and the community is cross-class. "I'm not convinced that many people want a Venice only for the wealthy or people like Jeff Bezos," Barel told Südtirol News . "Modest people" should also enjoy the beauty of the lagoon city, he continues.
On the other hand, it is clear that Venice counted over 720,000 paying visitors in 2025. These generated approximately 5.4 million euros – twice as much as the previous year, according to the Tagesschau . The payment policy was therefore in effect for 54 days, spread across weekends and holidays in April, May, June, and July. Early bookers among day tourists paid five euros, while last-minute visitors paid ten euros.
FOCUS
