Rome to Charge Tourists €2 to Access Trevi Fountain
Starting from February 1, tourists visiting Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain will have to pay a €2 ($2.34) entry fee, according to an announcement by Rome's Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri. This move, however, will not affect the city's residents, who will continue to have free access to all museums and civic monuments during this period.
Background and Context
The new measure was announced by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who explained that the ticket requirement will only be active from 9 pm to 10 pm each day. This decision comes after a record number of approximately nine million tourists visited the area just in front of the fountain between January 1st and December 8th, averaging about 30,000 per day.
Key Developments
While the fee is modest, the city expects this measure to generate significant revenue. Mayor Gualtieri anticipates an annual income of approximately €6.5 million ($7.6 million) from this initiative alone. In Brazilian real terms, the fee translates to R$ 12.91 (around $2.34), with expected revenue reaching R$ 42 million per year.
The mayor also hopes that the fee will help manage tourist traffic in the area. Two euros isn't very much … and it will lead to less chaotic tourist flows,
Gualtieri commented on the decision.
Implications and Reactions
The decision to charge an entry fee to access the Trevi Fountain, one of the Italian capital's most popular monuments, has sparked mixed reactions. While some view it as a necessary step to manage the overwhelming tourist traffic and raise funds for the city, others see it as an unwelcome burden on tourists.
The New York Times reported that not everyone is happy with the decision, particularly tourists who will now have to pay to descend into the basin of the famed 18th-century fountain. However, Rome's residents, who are exempt from the fee, are less likely to share these concerns.
Conclusion
Rome's new fee for tourists visiting the Trevi Fountain is set to take effect on February 1. The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to generate more income from Italy's many attractions, while also attempting to manage the large daily influx of tourists. While the measure has been met with some criticism, it is yet to be seen how it will impact the city's tourism industry in the long run.