Venice authorities said Monday they would extend a controversial ticket policy for day-trippers in 2025, reporting that last year's trial scheme had "slightly" reduced crowds.
The Italian city, built on islands in a lagoon, will designate 54 days this year when visitors will have to pay in advance for a ticket to enter the historic centre, up from 29 last year.
Venice rolled out the trial last April. Day-trippers paid a "Venice Access Fee" of five euros ($5.15) on certain days in what officials called an experiment to make the historic city more "liveable".
Those without tickets risked fines ranging from 50 to 300 euros, with spot checks at key points of entry.
Venice is one of the world's top tourist destinations, but many residents say it is drowning under the weight of crowds.
At peak times some 100,000 tourists spend the night in the city, while tens of thousands descend on the city just for the day, many of them from cruise ships. The main aim of the project is to discourage day-trippers, who contribute to the overcrowding of the city
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