Turmoil in Italy over plan to hike tourist tax

Milan: Overtourism, which is already causing headaches from Venice to the Italian Riviera, risks costing travellers dearly as Rome considers hiking the tourist tax to make them “more responsible” – and raise cash.

According to a draft decree that emerged this summer, Giorgia Meloni’s government is mulling raising the tourist tax – currently around €5 (US$5.5) a night – to €10 for rooms costing €100, €15 for those costing more than €400, and €25 for luxury suites costing over €750.

The proposal has sparked anger among tourism groups, which fear it could act as a deterrent.

“We mustn’t scare away tourists with taxes that are too high,” Marina Lalli, head of professional body Federturismo,.

“We already have a very high rate of VAT (sales tax), at 22 per cent, and if we add new taxes we risk damaging Italy’s competitiveness, especially for all-inclusive, organised trips.”

Bernarbo Bocca, president of hoteliers association Federalberghi, in May accused the government of treating “hotels as ATMs”.

After news of the proposed tax increase made headlines abroad, Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche at the weekend rejected “unfounded alarmism” – but did not deny the plan.

“At a time of overtourism we are discussing (the tourist tax) so it can be a real help to improve services and make the tourists who pay it more responsible,” she wrote on social media in early August.