“PROFITEERING”
Italy is the fourth hottest vacationer vacation spot on this planet, welcoming 57.2 million international vacationers final yr who spent US$55.9 billion, in line with the World Tourism Group (UNWTO).
In entrance of the Duomo, Milan’s majestic cathedral, vacationers jostling among the many pigeons to take selfies this week had been divided over the potential tax improve.
“Growing the tax can be profiteering. I’d go elsewhere, to different nations that did not have such a tax,” mentioned Fabea Wiegand, a 25-year-old economics pupil from Switzerland.
However Liam Roth, a 25-year-old laptop science pupil from Zurich, backed the proposal.
“Growing the tax is an efficient measure, I perceive that the Milanese are bothered by vacationers. We’re a part of the issue,” he advised AFP.
A authorities supply advised AFP that consultations with the trade and native authorities had been persevering with.
“Nothing has been determined. At this stage, rising the tax is only a speculation,” the supply mentioned.
WAVE OF TOURISTS
With its wealthy cultural heritage and gorgeous shoreline, Italy has lengthy been a preferred vacationer vacation spot – however the numbers have gotten unsustainable.
Venice, the place vacationers throng the slim streets and bridges, launched in April a €5 fee for day visitors during peak periods. But it surely was nonetheless packed.
On the Italian Riviera, the place at excessive season human site visitors jams kind alongside the paths between the colorful Cinque Terre villages alongside the gorgeous northwest coast, native authorities in July launched a five-euro charge to enter the newly renovated “Path of Love”.
Graffiti demanding “Vacationers go house!” adorns the bridges of Renaissance jewel Florence, simply because it does in Barcelona, a hotbed of anti-tourist discontent.
The issues are the identical for residents there as in Italy – noise and crowds, helpful outlets changed by memento stalls and above all, rising rents for locals fuelled by residences being transformed to short-term lets.
Beneath the proposed Italian plan, the vacationer tax – which introduced in €775 million in 2023 – would even be prolonged to all 7,904 municipalities.
