Italy’s local government has announced plans to introduce a new tax to tackle the growing problem of overtourism. While many Italian cities already charge visitors up to €5 per night, the government is now considering a unified tax, where the cost would be added to the hotel room rate, with higher-end hotels subjected to the highest level of the new levy.
This initiative is being championed by Daniela Santanchè, Italy’s Minister of Tourism. According to Santanchè, the tax will provide revenue for cities and municipalities struggling with budget deficits and reduce the number of visitors, thus easing the pressure on overcrowded cultural sites.
The proposed tax would start at €5 per night for budget rooms costing €100 or less. Rooms priced between €100 and €400 per night would see a €10 tax, while higher-end rooms between €400 and €750 would carry a €15 charge. Lastly, guests staying in luxury hotels costing more than €750 per night could be charged up to €25 per night.
The issue of overtourism has been a hot topic across Europe in recent months. Venice recently introduced a €5 entry fee for day-trippers. Cambridge is considering limiting the size and number of tourist groups, and Barcelona is looking to ban short-term rentals to non-residents.
Overtourism has already sparked anti-tourism protests in popular destinations across Europe, including in the Netherlands, Greece, and Spain, as locals grapple with the impacts of large numbers of visitors on their communities and infrastructure.
