Charges for day trippers to Venice???

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Being subscribed to a fabulous thing called http://www.travelmole.com I get to hear about the inside track on many stories relating to the worlds most unique city, Venice, and the travel industry in general. So by the time you lot are picking it out of the weekend supplements or blogs it is often already two weeks old.

Anyhow, back to my current rant, the current mayor Salvador "something-or-other" wants to charge day trippers a visitors tax. He says it is because they come in their thousands, block the streets, don't give up their seats (which they don't pay for by easily walking past the ticket booth) on water buses for the pregnant, old or infirm, have huge backpacks that knock into people, bring their own pack lunch and leave litter everywhere and basically contribute little or nothing to the local economy while being a burden on everything else. Fair point. So what does he suggest? a 20 euro per person tax.

However, Venice only has 60,000 inhabitants and nearly 20 million visitors every year. I wonder how many of those arrive by coach, and are charged for doing so (coach tax) or have to park at the station (parking tax) or are stupid enough to buy a Bellini at Harry's Bar (£20 each: of which 40% is taxed). Venice is not a cheap place but then again it does need a hell of a lot more maintenance. Local business tax is 60%, house prices are more expensive than any other city in Italy forcing the younger generation of locals to move out to Mestre until they inherit. in the menatime their commuting costs go into the city coffers. So Venice isn't poor yet. In fact, it is the capital of Italy's wealthiest region with more milionaires per square mile than any other place in Europe. Including Monaco! How Salvador can cry poverty is beyond me so why the tax?

I have to wonder where these travellers, singles, groups or otherwise were brought up, manners cost nothing and when in Rome... (or venice) do as the locals do. there is nothing anyone can do about the huge backpacks that these people hump all over europe. Is Salvador trying to tax bad manners then?

I agree that everyone should pay for public transport and if that means turnstiles then so be it. I agree that people should be more considerate and that the bridges are not public eateries but what is the alternative?

Personally, I think they should tax anyone who does not have an accommodation voucher for a place in the Veneto at least £200 per person for a visit between 8am and 7pm. Then finally when I am there and want to take a picture I won't end up being jostled by careless open mouthed backpack wielding morons. knowing my luck i'll be jostled by vacuous open mouthed nouveau riche instead.

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