More than 6,000 kilometers separate the city of Venice, in Italy, and the archipelago of the Magdalen Islands, in Quebec. Despite the distance, these popular destinations share the same challenge: they receive too many tourists! The two found a very similar solution to their problem: asking visitors to pay their entrance fee. Like at the museum!
$7.30 for a day in Venice
It is estimated that 30 million tourists visit the city of Venice every year. Around 100,000 people arrive in the historic center every day. That’s double the local population!
It’s…too crowded. And this means that the inhabitants of Venice no longer have access to very important services. For example, apartment buildings are transformed into hotels for tourists. Housing prices are also increasing. Result: the Venetians no longer know where to live. In addition, passenger travel pollutes a lot.
Since April 25, those visiting Venice for just one day must purchase a ticket. It costs 5 euros, or $7.30. This new tax will allow the City to collect money and control the number of visitors. For the moment, this measure is a test. It remains to be seen if it will last!
$30 for a stay in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine
In Quebec, the Îles-de-la-Madeleine welcome more than 60,000 visitors each year. It is a place known for its dunes and the many birds that come to breed there.
But visitors damage infrastructure and nature. The community also has a lot of difficulty keeping the place clean. Indeed, 60,000 people is a lot of waste. And treating this waste is very expensive when you are an island, since you have to send it far away!
Since Wednesday, each person must pay $30 if they want to stay there for more than one day, between the months of May and October. With the money, we plan to improve waste collection and processing. It will also be used to create a regional park.
Some people find the idea of paying to visit part of Quebec crazy. Others believe that it is normal for tourists to help reduce their impact. What do you think about it?
Émeric Épaud and Camille Lopez
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