From 16 January 2023, anyone wishing to visit Venice city centre for the day will have to book online in advance at a basic fee of €3 rising to €10 at peak times. The price will rise and fall based on the number of people seeking to visit the city centre.

The city’s tourism chief Simone Venturini said Venice would become the first city in the world to apply the "revolutionary" measure following approval by Venice’s city council.

Turnstiles will be installed at the city’s railway station, and tourists will have to present a valid QR code. There will be spot checks, and fines for not paying the charge could run to €300, it is reported.

An online portal and booking system will be launched in the autumn, with Venturini adding funds raised by the scheme would cover start-up costs, cleaning and maintenance.

Some will be excluded from paying the charge; these include tourists booked to stay overnight in the city, who already are already obliged to pay a city tourist tax.

There will also be exemptions for residents, children under the age of six, disabled people and those in the city for cultural or sporting events.

Venturini said the move was the city council seeking to remedy 30 years of mass tourism.