Italy May Have an Unpleasant Surprise for Tourists – Financial Times.

Italy Considers Increasing Tourist Tax

The Italian government is considering the possibility of increasing the tourist tax during the summer period due to a significant increase in the number of tourists. This was reported by the Financial Times.

«The government proposes charging up to 25 euros per night from hotel rooms to help cities struggling with tourist crowds», the publication writes. 

Italy's Minister of Tourism stated that the final decision will be made after discussions with representatives of the tourism industry in September. This discussion will determine whether the tax increase will be implemented, which may affect tourist flow and industry revenues.

Currently, tourist taxes are levied in most Italian cities on both foreign and local travelers. The amount of the tax varies from €1 to €5 per night per person depending on the level of the hotel or guest house. However, due to the overload of popular tourist destinations, the possibility of increasing this amount to €25 per night is being discussed. If such a measure is introduced, it could significantly influence tourists' choices and the overall volume of tourism in the country, especially in the summer months.

It is worth noting that local residents and activists are taking to the streets in various cities in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece, some armed with water pistols and posters calling on tourists to return home. Some tourist spots are simply «fed up» with tourists and are forced to introduce more and more bans.