A few hundred protesters held a demonstration against the new tourist fee, saying that it will fail to reduce tourist numbers and does not address the structural problems that many Venetians face.
There were brief clashes between some protesters and riot police armed with batons and shields, although no reported injuries.
A few hundred people then marched along the city’s canals, holding banners which read Airbnb Kills Cities and The Entrance Charge Won’t Save Venice.
“We don’t want to be Disneyland. We’re not an open-air museum. We’re totally against this entrance ticket,” said Ruggero Tallon, from a protest group that also opposes the presence of huge cruise ships in the lagoon.
Federica Toninello, from another protest group, told The Telegraph: “This is a sad day for Venice. It’s a distraction from the real problem facing Venetians, which is the lack of affordable housing. There are 2,000 council homes which are lying empty because the council hasn’t done the necessary work. The population of Venice is now down to 49,000. This is the real issue. We need people to live here. Instead there are ever more hotels for tourists. We don’t want an entrance fee. We want more affordable homes.”
Venice council insists the entrance fee is not a money-making exercise and that the revenue will barely be enough to cover the administration of the scheme.
Many Venetians are unhappy with that, saying that if an entrance charge has to be imposed, the proceeds should go towards improving housing, transport and public services.
“I live on one of the outer islands in the lagoon and the roads are full of potholes,” said Giuseppe, a bar owner who declined to give his surname. “And I think the charge will take money out of the pockets of restaurants and cafes. If a family of four spends €20 on entering Venice, they’ll be inclined to spend less on food and drink.”
Jan van der Borg, an economics professor and expert on tourism at Venice’s Ca’ Foscari University, believes the entrance fee will not succeed in reducing the tourist crush.
