The city of Venice in northern Italy is a world-famous tourist destination with its emerald green canals and picturesque architecture.

However, the city is overloaded with millions of tourists each year. In order to limit the number of tourists coming each year, the city government has imposed a regulation that day visitors during peak times must buy a ticket to enter the city for 5.50 USD (5 euros).

Since January 16, the Venice City Government has launched a website to sell tickets for tourists who want to visit Venice for the day from now until July. Currently, the city does not limit the number of tickets sold per day.

Those visiting Venice during the 29 peak days, which include the Italian public holidays of April 25 and May 5 and weekends in May, June and July, and who want to enter the city centre between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. will have to buy a ticket.

Buyers receive a QR code, granting them access to the city for a day. Visitors who deliberately enter the city without purchasing a ticket will be fined between $55 (€50) and $330 (€300).

Exemptions include residents, or those born in Venice, employees, or relatives of residents. These people only need to present an ID card. Visitors under 14 and tourists with hotel reservations will have to register and get a QR code, but do not need to buy a ticket.

The new rules do not apply to tourists visiting smaller islands in Venice, including Murano, famous for its glassmaking industry.

Authorities in Venice have debated for years how to manage the millions of visitors to the city without reducing tourism revenue.

However, the city government acted after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned it could put the city on its list of world heritage sites in danger.

According to official statistics, in 2022, about 3.2 million tourists stayed overnight in Venice and thousands of tourists visited the city during the day.