Many foreign tourists visiting
St Mark's Square said Tuesday they would be willing to pay an
entrance fee to the lagoon city but dislike the idea of a limit
being placed on the number of visitors.
"This is a good idea," said a French tourist admiring St.
Mark's Basilica, "if the money collected would be used to clean
the city".
The longstanding proposal for an entrance ticket to Venice
to discourage day trippers was mooted again recently by the
Undersecretary for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Ilaria
Borletti Buitoni, saying "one can't adapt Venice to tourism, but
tourism must adapt to the city respecting its dimensions and
integrity".
Her comments set off a furore, with the tour operator'
association Assoturismo-Confesercenti strongly against the idea,
supported also by Regional Veneto Governor Luca Zaia, while the
Venezia Federalberghi hoteliers' association strongly supported
the idea of charging, arguing that day trippers congest the city
and put a strain on public services.
As many as 90% of tourists polled in and around St. Mark's
Square were in favour of an entrance ticket. "I am totally in
agreement with the introduction of the ticket," a lady from
Milan said, "you only have to look around, if the city had more
funds available, it could offer more services".
Tourists, however, were opposed to the idea proposed by the
Governor and by other local officials since the 1980s to set a
limit on tourists who will have to reserve entrance to Venice, a
proposal designed to stop hordes of backpackers turning up and
sleeping on the Lido beach.
A Roman couple opined that "prices are already high and we
already pay our taxes, that is enough ... and no also to a limit
on visitors".
Yet many of those working in Venice support both proposals.
For example Gianfranco, one of the "San Marco Guardians," said
"trying to regulate the flows of tourists is fundamental,
because as things stand nobody can enjoy the city any more.
Obilgatory reservation would be welcome just as people have to
reserve to see an exhibit. I agree to charging an entrance
ticket on condition the city provide more services, which at the
moment are lacking, starting with more decent public lavatories
and some more benches".
An entry ticket would provide a welcome boost to city
coffers given that there are 20 million tourists a year in
Venice.
A gondolier was sceptical about the entire debate, however.
"Ticket? Limited numbers? No comment, it makes no difference
what we think because in the end the authorities just do what
they want," he said.
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