Venice tests a 5-euro entry fee for day-trippers as the city grapples with overtourism

The fragile lagoon city of Venice has launched a pilot program to charge day-trippers a 5-euro or $5.35 entry fee that authorities hope will discourage visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more livable for its dwindling residents. Visitors who are not sleeping in Venice will have to show a QR code attesting that they have paid the tax. Visitors arriving at Venice’s main train station Thursday were greeted with large signs listing the 29 dates through July of the plan’s test phase. They are also new entrances separating tourists from residents, students and workers. Stewards were on hand to politely guide anyone unaware of the new requirements through the process of downloading the QR code to pay the fee.