Italy's Venice will offer an entry ticket for tourists in 2023
July 2, 2022, 9:07 am

Italy's Venice will offer an entry ticket for tourists in 2023

Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small island that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges - Pic. Pixabay

From 2023, daytrippers will have to pay up to 10 euros ($10.4) to enter the Italian city of Venice, one of the wonders of the world that has long been plagued by over tourism, the Anadolu Agency reported.

It said that the measure, announced on Friday (July 1) by the Venice city council, will kick in on Jan. 16, 2023.

Tourists who stay overnight, children under 6, holiday home owners, people staying with locals, students, commuters and several other categories will be exempted.

Simone Venturini, city councilor for tourism, called the new system “the only way” to control mass tourism. He said: “It is an important step, it is a key stage, and we are the first in the world to do it.”

Entry fees for Venice will range from 3 to 10 euros, depending on how busy the city is. The city council has yet to decide on the overcrowding thresholds that will determine the prices tourists have to pay.

The name, Venice, is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. The city was historically the capital of the Republic of Venice for over a millennium, from 697 to 1797. It was a major financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as an important center of commerce—especially silk, grain, and spice, and of art from the 13th century to the end of the 17th - Pic. Pixabay

The councilor also announced price hikes for public transport and tourist attractions. From Sept. 1, a single ticket for a water ferry will go up from 7.50 to 9.50 euros, while entry to the St. Mark’s museums will increase from 25 to 30 euros ($31.2).

Venturini insisted there was no question of closing the city altogether during exceptionally busy times, like the carnival in February.

Italy announces initiative to limit air conditioning to reduce energy use

“The city always stays open, but if we reach a threshold … you can still come if you want, but you pay a bit more,” he said.

Booking will be done online, and a team of 15-20 inspectors will patrol the city’s alleys, bridges and piazzas to look for fare dodgers, who will face fines ranging from 50 to 300 euros (from $42 to $311).

Venetians have long been trying to discourage so-called “hit and run tourists” who stay in the city only a few hours. The council first presented plans to make them pay to enter the city in 2019, but their implementation was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hundreds of people rescued after fire breaks out on Greece-Italy ferry

The Agency noted that tourism is Venice’s main industry, but the constant inflow of visitors is blamed for making the city ever more expensive and less hospitable for residents, a fact that is reflected in dwindling resident numbers – now down to 50,000, compared to 76,000 some 30 years ago.

Source: aa

UK and France vow to support Ukraine in war for freedom Brazil sets new six-month Amazon deforestation record

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.