In August, Venice announced upcoming entry fees for most visitors and the immediate banning of cruise ships. Now, the City of Canals has confirmed that around 2022-2023, a pre-booking reservation system will be enforced and CCTV cameras will be installed throughout the city.
Using 468 CCTV cameras, optical sensors, and a mobile phone-tracing system, city officials will start tracking all tourists who enter the city. They can tell residents from visitors, where people are coming from, where they are heading, and how fast they are moving, Reuters confirms.
Every 15 minutes, authorities will get a snapshot of how crowded the city is, along with information about how many gondolas are on the Canal Grande, whether boats are speeding, and if the waters are rising to dangerous levels.
In addition, airport-like turnstiles are currently being tested to control the flow of people. If the numbers become overwhelming, these will stop new visitors from getting in.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told Sky News: “I expect protests, lawsuits, everything... but I have a duty to make this city liveable for those who inhabit it and also these who want to visit.”
