VENICE is considering charging day trippers a fee for entering the city – so should the historic capital of Scotland do the same?
The Italian city, famed for its canals, is set to introduce the €5 charge in a bid to curb overtourism, amid warnings the Unesco World Heritage site was in danger due to excessive numbers of visitors and climate change.
Despite its tiny size, Venice is one of the most visited cities in Europe putting extra strain on its infrastructure and services.
According to statistics collated by local groups, beds for tourists outnumber those for residents, the BBC reported.
We told earlier this year how Edinburgh was the second most popular tourist destination in the UK, behind London in 2022.
The capital took in 1.8 million out of a total 3.23m visitors to Scotland last year.
Given Edinburgh is home to two World Heritage sites – its Old Town and the New Town – should a similar scheme be implemented in the capital?
Have your say...
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel