A tourist in Venice took out his anger over the meagre rate offered by a currency exchange bureau by allegedly holding hostage a female employee in protest.

The 46-year-old Israeli man walked into a currency exchange office near the Rialto Bridge, which spans the Grand Canal, and asked to change US dollars into Euros.

Furious at the poor exchange rate and the paltry amount of Euros he received, he allegedly barricaded himself and the female member of staff into the exchange bureau.

Demanding that he be given his dollars back, he refused to allow her to leave for half an hour.

The woman, who was deeply shaken by the experience, eventually managed to call the police.

Officers arrived and the man was taken to the nearest police station, where he was charged with kidnapping the cashier.

The incident, which happened on Tuesday, is the latest episode of unacceptable behaviour by tourists in Venice.

Last month, an enraged tourist from South America head-butted and punched a gondolier during an altercation over taking a selfie.