Should Popular Cities Charge Tourists an Entry Fee? Lessons From Venice

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1. 01Should Popular Cities Charge Tourists an Entry Fee?

   Good afternoon. I'm a tour guide from Lisbon, a city that is also very busy with tourists. Today, I'd like to look at a question many cities are asking: should tourists pay just to enter? Venice gives us a real example.

   下午好。我是来自里斯本的导游，这座城市同样挤满了游客。今天，我想探讨一个很多城市都在思考的问题：游客是否应该仅仅为了进城而付费？威尼斯给了我们一个真实的例子。

2. 02What Venice Did

   On April 25, 2024, Venice started charging day-trippers a five-euro fee to enter the old city on selected busy days. People staying overnight didn't pay this fee. In 2025, the city decided to continue it on even more days.

   2024年4月25日，威尼斯开始在选定的繁忙日子里，向一日游游客收取五欧元的费用，才能进入老城区。在当地过夜的人不用付这笔费用。2025年，这座城市决定继续实施，而且天数更多了。

   Sources: NPR, "Venice tests a 5-euro fee for day-trippers as the city grapples with overtourism" (April 25, 2024); CNBC, "Venice: City becomes first in the world to start charging an entry fee" (April 25, 2024); Fortune, Venice extends day-tripper fee to more days in 2025 (February 11, 2025)

3. 03For: Managing the Crowds

   Supporters say a fee helps manage crowds. If visitors must book and pay in advance, some may choose a quieter day, or stay overnight and spend more in local businesses.

   支持者说，收费有助于控制人流。如果游客必须提前预约并付款，有些人可能会选择比较清静的日子，或者留下来过夜，在当地商家多消费。

4. 04For: Protecting Local Life

   They also argue that cities belong to the people who live there. Fees send a message that a city is a home, not a theme park, and the money can help pay for cleaning and services.

   他们还认为，城市属于住在那里的人。收费传递出一个信息：城市是一个家，而不是主题乐园，而且这笔钱可以用来支付清洁和公共服务的费用。

5. 05Against: Too Small to Matter

   On the other hand, critics say five euros is too small to change behavior. If someone has already paid for a trip to Italy, a small fee probably won't make them stay away.

   另一方面，批评者说，五欧元太少了，改变不了人们的行为。如果有人已经花钱安排了去意大利的旅行，一笔小小的费用大概不会让他们不去。

6. 06Against: Turning a City Into a Ticket

   Other critics, including some residents, feel uncomfortable with the idea itself. They worry that charging an entry fee treats a living city like a museum, and that it makes travel harder for people with less money.

   其他批评者，包括一些居民，对这个想法本身感到不舒服。他们担心收取入城费会把一座有人生活的城市当成博物馆，而且会让手头不宽裕的人更难出门旅行。

7. 07My View

   In my view, an entry fee can be one useful tool, especially because it makes visitors plan ahead. But on its own, it won't solve overtourism. Cities also need limits on cruise ships, short-term rentals, and tour group sizes.

   在我看来，入城费可以是一个有用的工具，尤其是因为它能让游客提前做计划。但仅靠它，是解决不了过度旅游问题的。城市还需要限制邮轮、短租房以及旅游团的规模。

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, Venice's experiment is worth watching. An entry fee may be part of the answer, but not the whole answer. As travelers, we can help too, by visiting quieter places and quieter seasons. Thank you.

   最后，威尼斯的这项尝试值得关注。入城费也许是答案的一部分，但不是全部。作为旅行者，我们也可以出一份力，比如去比较清静的地方，选择比较清静的季节。谢谢大家。