Venice, Italy, 25 April 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Tourists wishing to visit the Italian city of Venice will have to pay a fee for the first time, as a trial aiming to disincentivize day trippers at peak times started on Thursday.

Day visitors will have to pay a €5 ($5.30) access fee between 8:30 am and 4 pm (0630 GMT-1400 GMT) unless exempt.

Residents of the Veneto region, people who work, study or were born in Venice and anyone who has booked accommodation in the city will be exempt from the requirement to buy a ticket.

Children under 14 will also be among those exempted. In some cases an exemption voucher is required.

The trial will initially run until May 5 and then nearly every weekend until mid-July, for a total of 29 days this year.

A decision will then be made by the end of the year as to whether this will become a permanent arrangement.

The flow of visitors from all over the world brings a lot of money into the coffers of the tourist hotspot.

However, mass tourism has also been causing problems for Venice - one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world - for some time.

The historic centre with the famous Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge and the many canals now has less than 50,000 permanent residents.

In the high season, there are more than twice as many tourists on some days.

Last year, it was estimated that around 15 million visitors travelled to the city.

Failure to pay the admission ticket could result in a fine of €50 to €300.

According to the city council, the revenue will later be used to renovate canals, roads and buildings.

Photo: MIA archive