Florence Considers Day-Trip Ticket, Inspired by Venice Model

As Florence continues to grapple with the challenges of overtourism, a new proposal is reigniting the debate on how to manage the city’s growing number of visitors. Speaking at the annual assembly of Federalberghi Firenze, the city’s main hotel association, president Francesco Bechi suggested that Florence could consider an entrance fee for day-trippers—similar to the one recently introduced in Venice.

According to Bechi, the idea is not to discourage tourism but to protect the quality of life for residents and ensure a more sustainable experience for visitors. He emphasized that the current tourism model is not balanced: overnight guests contribute directly to the city’s economy through the tourist tax and by using local services, while day visitors often do not. “Florence is a destination with a limited capacity for sustainability,” Bechi said, calling for specific arrival hubs and ticketing systems for those who visit without spending the night.

Data from the City of Florence shows that around 8 million day-trippers visited in 2024—more than half of the city’s total tourism flow. Municipal tourism councillor Jacopo Vicini responded to Bechi’s remarks by acknowledging the need for discussion, though he clarified that the city is not currently planning to introduce an entrance ticket. “The challenge is complex,” he noted. “We need to find shared solutions for managing such a high concentration of visitors in a very small historic center.”

In recent months, Florence has already taken steps to regulate tourism more strictly. These include new rules on short-term rentals, a ban on automated key boxes, restrictions on amplified guide systems, and the latest move to regulate tourist transport in the UNESCO core area.

The debate comes at a time of economic uncertainty for the hospitality sector. While 2024 was a strong year for Florence hotels, with a 0.7% increase in overnight stays, the outlook for 2025 is less optimistic. Hoteliers report a slowdown beginning in June, partly due to the weakening dollar and potential impacts of new U.S. tariffs.

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