Venice, Italy: charging for entry?

I ran across this information on one of my usual updates from the italian news mocking website "Only in Italy". First they quote a news article, then they make fun of it. I learn a lot from the website, much of it dead wrong - no, wait, I don't know that, I'm kidding - but it's fun for me.
The website: http://www.onlyinitaly.com/


Their headline: Venice Planning To Slap Entry Tax On Tourists

Their quote from an article: (sorry, I read these newsletters a few at a time, this one has been sitting in my email for a few weeks)
As to sources, they have a sources list on the website somewhere.

Venice - October 17, 2010 - Tourists arriving in Venice by train, plane and cruise ship are to be charged an entrance tax under plans being drawn up by Italy's government.
Critics are saying it would reinforce the concept of Venice as a kind of historical and cultural theme park. More than 20 million people visit Venice every year but many of them are day travelers who bring their own food and drink and choose not to stay the night, depriving the lagoon city of desperately needed revenue to restore its crumbling palaces, churches and monuments.
The idea of an entrance fee has proved highly controversial in the past, with critics saying it would reinforce the concept of Venice as a kind of historical and cultural theme park. But the government has now drawn up a draft plan which would allow Venetian authorities to extract a one-off fee from visitors who fly into Marco Polo airport, arrive by train or disembark from the growing number of cruise liners which access the city from the Adriatic.
The cost of the tax is still being discussed. It is unlikely to be very high, the city's last mayor, Massimo Cacciari, who stepped down earlier this year, had suggested imposing a one euro levy on all cruise ship passengers.
The draft plan has been drawn up by Renato Brunetta, the minister for public administration and innovation, who is himself Venetian, and has been welcomed by Venice's mayor, Giorgio Orsoni.


Their take on the matter (the bolding is theirs):

Face it, there are hundreds of places to visit and things to do in Venice, among them numerous forgettable, regrettable and overrated tourist traps. But, "porca vacca", an entrance tax is an insult. Why should you pay for admission to enter a lagoon where you are well aware you WILL be fleeced?
If Venice desperately needs revenue, leave the tourists alone and try our suggestions:
Gondolas: At a going rate of 80 Euros for a 40-minute ride, it's the ultimate tourist trap. What you won't imagine, however, is how unromantic and pointless a gondola ride in Venice could be! We're sure there are people out there, such as couples in so-called 'love' who've had different experiences but walk around the city and you'll see long lines of gondolas following each other down overcrowded canals. "Cacchio", how romantic!
And needless to say, none of these gondolier sons-of-bitches will croon since you will need to pay extra for that service. Most will overcharge and lie to you about the length of the trip and where the gondola goes. That's right! You get a 15 minute ride down a small canal. The end!
Solution: Tax the gondoliers 25-75 percent of the rate depending on the disgusted look on the people's faces as they are pulling back in.
Harry's Bar: Some of you look forward to having a 'Bellini' at Harry's Bar, Ernest Hemingway's favorite watering hole in Venice. And some of you are under the idea prices were the same back in his days. Walk into this dark little bar and take a look at the menu. The home of the 'Bellini' charges 15 Euros ($21 USD) for its trademark drink! "Vaffanculo", Harry and Hemingway!
Solution: Tax the recipe!
Stock sparkling wine (traditionally Prosecco) = 2 Euros,
Peach puree = 50 cents,
Bar overhead = 50 cents,
Contribution to save a sinking Venice = 12 Euros
TOTAL = 15 Euros


Naturally, I have no idea if this planning idea has passed the italian legislature. I have sympathy for the wear and tear on Venice from nature and the tourists, and am amused by the tax the purveyors idea, but have grave doubts that's doable. Very grave. But, an amusing idea.

Your thoughts?