Venice collects record 5 million euros from tourist entry fees

Venice has generated a record sum of over five million euros from its controversial entrance fee for day-trippers this year. The city, struggling with mass tourism, reported more than 650,000 paying visitors during the 60 days the fee was in effect. While officially still a trial, the measure is widely expected to become permanent.

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When is the next time they're going to make a movie like this, where Pacific Islanders are playing Pacific Islanders?

The fee, typically 10 euros, was reduced to five euros for those booking at least three days in advance. Tourists staying overnight are exempt but pay a separate accommodation tax. The current season has ended, but the fee is expected to return, likely around Easter next year.

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I feel so lucky. There are so many people who I felt like could have been this role, and it honestly felt like just being in the right place at the right time.

Mayor Simone Venturini has proposed significantly higher fees, ranging from 30 to 50 euros on specific dates. However, such a decision requires approval from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government in Rome. Venice pioneered this type of entry fee in 2014, aiming to manage the overwhelming tourist influx.

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So many times on set I was tearing up because I felt that personally in my life, of thinking of my ancestors, thinking of my grandparents, of them watching over me, of guiding me, of cheering me on.

Critics question the fee's effectiveness in deterring visitors, as numbers have not declined. Furthermore, constitutional concerns have been raised, with experts suggesting a 50-euro fee could be seen as restricting freedom of movement. Venice, home to fewer than 50,000 residents, grapples with millions of tourists annually, leading to issues like deteriorating buildings and excessive waste, with more hotel beds now available than permanent residents.

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I was telling my wife, I was like, 'you know what? Even if, for whatever reason I never get into another film again, and Moana is the only film I end up in for the rest of my life, I'm so glad it was this one'.