'Disgusting' European holiday hotspot now on 'brink of collapse' due to overtourism
Venice has long been a popular destination for holidaymakers to explore, whether during a day trip or a longer stay.
Around 30 million people visit the Italian city each year and a daily €5 (£4.35) tourist tax for day-trippers was introduced last year to help tackle the overtourism.
The charge was brought in as a trial in April and was payable over 54 selected days until July 27.
Officials said that the charge, payable by visitors who arrived for the day between 8.30am and 4pm, was paid by 720,000 compared to 485,000 last year.
However, annoyed Italians have voiced their views on the issue and many now feel overtourism is ruining the city and the tax may not be that effective.
In a Reddit post from last year, someone spoke out about the tax and penned: 'How is the €5 tax supposed to help against tourist overcrowding in Venice?
'Oh no, I spent hundreds of euros on travel and hotels to get there, but €5 is too much! I'm going back to Indonesia!''
Many replied, airing similar grievances with how the problem is being handled.
One Italian described the tax as 'despicable' and urged for a different approach.
'I find it a little despicable to pay to visit a city,' they said.
'A limited number of visitors would have made more sense, as Venice, being unique, certainly can't handle that impressive number of people.
'But if Venice's problem is overcrowding, primarily from foreign tourists, what do you solve by charging an entrance fee to the Italian minority who visit?'
Someone else sarcastically argued: 'It's needed because Venice is a real city, it's not an attraction park where you pay a ticket to enter... Ah no wait.'
Meanwhile, others complained of how 'disgusting' the city has become.
'Yes, the residents are virtually extinct. Mass tourism has killed the city,' one person said.
'If they wanted to manage overcrowding, they could implement a name-based reservation system,' someone else grumbled.
In June, Setrak Tokatzian, president of the Venice's historic Piazza San Marco Association of small businesses, spoke out about the tax.
He urged council chiefs to up the tax to an eye-watering €100 (£87).
Mr Tokatzian, who runs a jewellery shop in the heart of Venice, said it would be worth it because many of the 30 million people who visit the city each year are lowering the tone of the city.
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