ROME — The city of Venice has announced that it will extend its day-tripper tax through the following year, expanding the days when tourists must pay to enter the city and doubling the fee for last-minute visitors to 10 euros, as stated by city officials on Thursday.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro emphasized that the tax is intended to assist the city and its residents in addressing the challenges of overtourism, particularly during busy holiday periods and weekends that see a surge in visitors.

The newly implemented system will commence on April 18, 2025, and run until July 27. Tourists will be required to pay the entry fee on Fridays, weekends, and holidays, totaling 54 days in all. Those who fail to make reservations in advance will incur a fee of 10 euros instead of the regular 5 euros.

This tax will be in effect during peak hours, specifically from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents, those born in Venice, students, and workers will be exempt, along with tourists who have hotel bookings or other accommodations.

According to Venice officials, the initial test phase concluded last July with the tax generating 2.4 million euros (approximately $2.6 million), averaging around 1,000 entries on each day it was enforced.

During this period, Italians made up 60% of the visitors using the ticketing website, with American, German, and French tourists following closely behind.

In response to various criticisms labeling the effort a failure, Brugnaro reiterated that the initiative has not deterred as many visitors as anticipated. He stated, “Venice is the first city in the world that strives to manage the issue of overtourism, and we’ve achieved significant results.”

The renowned lagoon city has struggled for years with large crowds, with estimates based on mobile phone data indicating between 25 million and 30 million annual arrivals from both day visitors and those staying overnight since 2020.

The day-tripper tax was initially postponed due to the pandemic, and other UNESCO member countries praised the city when they opted not to place Venice on a list of World Heritage Sites in danger. Additionally, Venice managed to avoid being added to this list two years prior by banning cruise ships from navigating through the Giudecca Canal and St. Mark’s Basin.