Overcrowded Venice begins charging day-trippers for access
Venice has implemented a 5-euro entry fee for tourists on certain days to reduce overcrowding. The fee must be paid online or at a booth, and fines will be issued for non-compliance. Some visitors feel the charge is unfair, but the city aims to strike a balance between residents and day trippers. The initiative is part of a larger effort to manage tourist flows in Venice, which received 20 million visitors last year. Residents, students, workers, and children under 14 are exempt from the fee. Other measures include banning large cruise ships and limiting tourist group sizes.