A popular city in Italy will soon start charging tourists an extra fee for visiting.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warned that holidaymakers who visit Venice or its surrounding islands for less than two nights will be subject to a charge from summer 2023. A sought-after destination steeped in history and romance, the city is made up of 118 small islands.
It's a hit with tourists who want to sample the local cuisine, explore the area's stunning sights and canals from a gondola or for couples looking for a romantic getaway. But from next summer, doing so will get slightly more expensive.
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In an update on Monday, The FCDO said: "Visitors to Venice and the surrounding islands for less than two nights are planned to be subject to for an entry fee between 3 and 10 euros from summer 2023. This will be payable via a dedicated website or through an app.
"Non-compliance may result in fines of up to 300 euros. Check with your travel operator before travelling."
There are set to be exceptions to the upcoming fees, reports the Mirror. This includes children aged under six, people with disabilities, and people with homes or timeshares in Venice, as long as they pay council tax.
Venice's main island, which measures only 2sq miles and is populated by 50,000 permanent residents, had 19 million visitors in 2019. But it is reported that over three-quarters of the people who visit do so for only a day.
The new tourist tax isn't the city heading in a new direction as the city already taxes guests who stay overnight from one to five euros (0.80p to £4.30). Any guests paying that will be exempt from the day fee.
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