Italy, one of the countries at the epicentre of an overtourism debate that is rippling around the world, is looking at tourist taxes once more as a potential answer to the problem.
Day trippers to Venice, the north east’s prime destination, were already asked to register their presence and pay an “access contribution” on peak days in 2024 – a controversial move that some of the lagoon-city’s residents complained made them feel they were living in a theme park. Reviews of the trial access charge have suggested it did little to deter visitors and a price increase has been mooted.
Now, it is not just hotspots like Venice, but the whole country that could be increasing its existing tourist tax to up to €25 per night.
How much?
Payable in addition to any “local” tourist taxes in cities such as Venice, or indeed Rome and Florence, the new fee would be around five times as much as the current national overnight hotel tax of €1 to €5 per night. Rather than being an “access charge”, it would again be a tiered charge linked to hotel room prices, with holidaymakers who pay the most for their rooms liable for the highest tax.
The Financial Times reports that the proposals would add:
- €25 in fees to a €750-a-night room;
- €15 tax for room rates between €400 and €750;
- €10 tax on rooms costing between €100 and €400;
- and only €5 to rooms worth under €100.
Criticism
While some will welcome measures to address overtourism, which has been blamed for crowding, damage to monuments, antisocial behaviour and rising housing costs, critics are already expressing concerns about tourism being used as a cash cow.
A number of hospitality and business associations have warned that the dampening effect of such a tax on hotel room prices could negatively impact growth in the sector. Barbara Casillo, director of the Italian hotel association, Confindustria Alberghi, said the taxes could “scare” off potential visitors, and the body’s president, Maria Carmela Colaiacovo, hailed the industry’s “important contribution to the country’s economy” and cautioned that “foreign competition is strong and fierce and we need careful policies that do not compromise the competitiveness of our businesses and our destinations. We cannot be a mere ATM for municipalities.”
Echoing that sentiment, Marina Lalli, of Federturismo, another industry representative, has pointed out that the taxes are effectively illegal if they are not being used to benefit visitors. “When you go and fix your streets that are full of holes — and you pay with money you collect from tourist tax — is this really for tourists, or is this a normal, ordinary thing that you should do in your city?” she questioned.
But to pave the way for the hike in tax, the current administration is looking at changing that stipulation. Tourism minister, Daniela Santanchè, said the proposed tax could “really help improve services and make tourists who pay it more responsible.”
