“PROFITEERING”
Italy is the fourth hottest vacationer vacation spot on the earth, welcoming 57.2 million international vacationers final yr who spent US$55.9 billion, in keeping 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 have been divided over the potential tax improve.
“Rising the tax could be profiteering. I’d go elsewhere, to different international locations that did not have such a tax,” stated Fabea Wiegand, a 25-year-old economics scholar from Switzerland.
However Liam Roth, a 25-year-old pc science scholar from Zurich, backed the proposal.
“Rising the tax is an effective measure, I perceive that the Milanese are bothered by vacationers. We’re a part of the issue,” he informed AFP.
A authorities supply informed AFP that consultations with the trade and native authorities have been persevering with.
“Nothing has been determined. At this stage, growing the tax is only a speculation,” the supply stated.
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. However it was nonetheless packed.
On the Italian Riviera, the place at excessive season human 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 price 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 considerations 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.
