Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro plans to charge daytrippers to his city - who can enter cheaply by bus, and make up 80% of visitor foot traffic - a "disembarcation contribution" in an effort to reduce congestion and improve livability for residents.
The new fee might be in the 1 to 5 euro range.
Bridge tolls and public-transportation surcharges are among the plans being considered for collecting the fee.
Big unknowns are (1) what will the new fee do to visitor numbers, and (2) how will Venetian businesses and residents feel about that? In April, the city tried installing barriers and checkpoints to separate residents from tourists, but residents objected vehemently to being confronted by cops when trying to move around the city, and tore down the barriers.
The City Council of Venice is scheduled to rule on the new fee shortly. Stay tuned.