“It’s a city that dedicates itself entirely to tourism”. Each year, more than 6 million tourists visit the small Italian waterbound city. Since April 2024, visiting tourists have been mandated to pay a five euro entry fee on weekends. In its first summer, the tax accumulated over £2m, but failed to deter large numbers. Yet not all business owners are opposed to Venice’s high footfall. "It’s the tourists who put food on our tables", says a Venetian local. On the other hand, residents like Ruggero emphasise the darker side of this dependency. "The more money this tourism brings, the more dependent we are just on that."