Next year, one day, tourists to the stunning lagoon city of Venice will be required to pay €5 (about $A8 at today’s exchange rate) to stay around.

To encourage tourists to visit on days when fewer people are present, the city council has proposed a policy that will take effect in the spring of 2024 and apply to the 30 days of the year when there is the greatest number of visitors.

The year-round population of Venice is 50,000, but during the high season, the number of tourists visiting the city might more than quadruple what it would be considered normal. Problems and disturbances for locals have been caused by huge numbers of visitors, particularly those who arrive on cruise ships, and these issues have persisted for years.

Simone Venturini, a councillor for the city of Venice in charge of tourism, has set a goal of achieving “a new balance between the rights of those who live, study, or work in Venice and those who visit the city.”

However, some people are on board with this even though the option has been presented in various contexts and has been shown to divide the local population.

Those who do not have a ticket may be subject to a fine ranging from 50 to 300 euros (83 to 500 Australian dollars).