Venice is set to notch up a record number of tourists in 2007 with over 20 million visitors expected to have walked its alleyways and sailed along its canals by the end of the year.
The volume of tourists went up 33% between 2004 and 2006 and there now seems to be no low season at all, according to figures released on Tuesday by city tourism officials.
Foreigners continue to make up around 80% of the arrivals in the lagoon city.
Chinese and Japanese tourists have fallen off this year, but their numbers have been amply compensated by increases in the influx of visitors from European countries such as France and Spain.
The number of Russians in the city has reportedly risen 30% in 2007.
Of millions of people who make the trip to Venice, over half arrive and leave on the same day, choosing to avoid the high cost of hotels in the city.
According to the city council, many tourists these days are seeking out cheaper alternatives to hotels, such as rented apartments or bed and breakfast-type arrangements.
In a bid to keep the city looking smart despite the daily invasion of tourists, city hall this year deployed groups of female 'sentinels' to stop people dropping litter or picnicking near popular sites.
