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.

   午安。我是來自里斯本的導遊，這座城市同樣擠滿了遊客。今天，我想探討一個很多城市都在思考的問題：遊客是否應該僅僅為了進城而付費？威尼斯給了我們一個真實的例子。

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，威尼斯開始在選定的繁忙日子裡，向一日遊遊客收取五歐元的費用，才能進入老城區。在當地過夜的人不用付這筆費用。2025年，這座城市決定繼續實施，而且天數更多了。

   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.

   支持者說，收費有助於控制人流。如果遊客必須提前預約並付款，有些人可能會選擇比較清靜的日子，或者留下來過夜，在當地商家多消費。

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.

   他們還認為，城市屬於住在那裡的人。收費傳遞出一個資訊：城市是一個家，而不是主題樂園，而且這筆錢可以用來支付清潔和公共服務的費用。

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，批評者說，五歐元太少了，改變不了人們的行為。如果有人已經花錢安排了去義大利的旅行，一筆小小的費用大概不會讓他們不去。

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.

   其他批評者，包括一些居民，對這個想法本身感到不舒服。他們擔心收取入城費會把一座有人生活的城市當成博物館，而且會讓手頭不寬裕的人更難出門旅行。

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.

   在我看來，入城費可以是一個有用的工具，尤其是因為它能讓遊客提前做計劃。但僅靠它，是解決不了過度旅遊問題的。城市還需要限制郵輪、短租房以及旅遊團的規模。

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.

   最後，威尼斯的這項嘗試值得關注。入城費也許是答案的一部分，但不是全部。作為旅行者，我們也可以出一份力，比如去比較清靜的地方，選擇比較清靜的季節。謝謝大家。