Violent clashes erupted in Venice on Thursday between police and protesters against the controversial measure of an entrance fee to the city for visitors staying for less than a day.

Protesters holding signs and banners expressed anger at the policy aimed at curbing the surge of over-tourism in the city, especially during peak periods.

Committees and residents’ associations have planned protests today, the first day of the measure’s implementation, the Daily Mail reports.

They say the fee will not solve the city’s basic problems, but will only tarnish its public image.

Several hundred people gathered with banners and organised marches against the measure.

The riots escalated, with protesters trying to break the cordon at entry points to the city.

Some of the banners read “No to the ticket, yes to homes and services for all”

For other tourists, those on gondolas, it was again a chance to photograph the riots

Why residents are reacting

Despite the great pressure from over-tourism that has forced thousands of people to leave the city, there are a large number of people who oppose the measure.

They accuse the city authorities of using the ticket to turn the city into a “theme park”.

“I can tell you that almost the entire city is opposed,” Mateo Seki, who leads Venessia.com, a group of residents opposed to the measure, claimed to the Guardian. “You can’t impose an entrance fee on a city; all they do is turn it into a theme park. This is a bad image for Venice … Are we joking?”.

Federica Tonielo, who heads the ASC, an association for housing, stressed that: “5 euros will do nothing to deter people. Day trippers are not the problem. The problem is the lack of affordable housing. What we need are policies to help residents, for example, setting rules to restrict things like Airbnb.”

For its part, the city points out that as of today, April 25, the first day of implementation of the measure, 5,500 people had booked tickets, bringing in 27,500 euros to the city’s coffers. They also say the authorities say that if the scheme is successful, municipal fees will be reduced.

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Under the new regulations, a fee will be imposed on tourists passing through the city without staying overnight.

The scheme will only apply for 29 days until 14 July, for certain hours of the day. Residents, students and children under 14 years old, as well as those who choose to stay overnight in a hotel will be exempt from the fee.

Authorities hope this can help manage the flow of some 30 million tourists visiting the city each year.