Italy could 'get tough' on tourists with new extra £21 charge for every night of holidays
Italian holiday destination - like many others in popular southern European countries - have been grappling with an influx of tourists.
Holidaymakers visiting Italy could be hit with a new charge for every night of their stay in the country, as lawmakers debate whether to raise a tax on hotel rooms.
The ruling comes after fears that overtourism is harming Italian cities and pushing residents out of their own communities.
The Italian Tourism minister, Daniele Santanche, tweeted from her official account on Friday that she is considering the new proposal.
She wrote: "In times of over-tourism, we are debating this so that it really helps improve services and make tourists who pay it more responsible."
One of the main concerns is that an overflow of visitors can cause a rise in the cost of living and the gentrification of particularly popular tourist areas.
The Financial Times has reported that the tax, currently €1 to €5 per person, per night, could be extended up to €25 (£21)
It is understood that the new proposal will be levied on hotel rooms, with the most expensive hotels being hit with the £21 upper limit charge.
Reports in the Telegraph have broken down the policy further claiming that rooms under €100 (£84) will go to the current maximum of €5 (£4.21) per person, per night. This will go up to €10 (£8.42) per night for rooms costing between €100 and €399 (£335) with a €15 (£12.63) charge for rooms priced at €400 (£336) - €749 (£630).
The proposal would see the top rate being applied to hotels of over €750 (£631) a night.
The move comes as a number of the most popular European cities for tourists are also instituting higher taxes for tourists.
Barcelona’s city council announced in June that it will outlaw all apartment rentals to tourists by 2028 in an attempt to make housing more affordable for residents.
This comes as both the Canary Islands and Barcelona have seen protests from residents this year against overtourism and its negative effects.
The director of Italian hotel chain Confindustria Alberghi, Barbara Casillo, told local media: "We must tread very carefully.
“If we scare travellers who come to us by giving the impression that we want to take what we can, we are not doing a good service to the country.”
It is estimated tourism represents around 6% of Italy’s GDP with around 60 million tourists visiting in 2023 alone.
It is as yet unclear when the new proposal will be voted on by the Italian parliament.
