The news
Italy is considering a major hike in tourist taxes to combat the effects of overtourism, the latest European country to take measures to combat the uncontrollable number of visitors that have sparked protests across the continent.
Under the proposed measure, the tax for staying overnight in an Italian city, currently €1-€5 ($1-$5.50), could rise to €25 for the most expensive hotel rooms, the Financial Times reported. The country’s tourism minister said it would make tourists “more responsible.”
Europe has become the epicentre of a movement against mass tourism this summer. Protests have broken out in several countries, including Spain, the Netherlands and Greece, as residents protest against the negative impact that the excessive number of visitors is having on their quality of life.
SIGNALS
Residents protest rising costs and changing neighborhoods
Residents’ biggest complaint about an overabundance of visitors is the rising cost of living and gentrification in highly popular tourist areas, which has driven some residents away. In Barcelona, ​​for example, rents have risen 68% in the past decade, CNN noted. Many feel that tourism is disrupting the social fabric of certain neighborhoods in tourist cities, where historic establishments are often pushed out to make way for stores selling cheaper, lower-quality products aimed at visitors, Italian outlet Il Post added. Overtourism increases the pressure on health care, waste management and water supplies, Euronews reported, while the construction of hotels and new housing can pose environmental problems.
In Italy there is a fine line between preserving the industry and protecting the inhabitants
In Italy, many residents are irritated by the impact of tourism on their cities and are backing a hike in taxes on visitors, the Financial Times reported. But the government is also wary of alienating the tourism industry, which most recent estimates put at around 6% of the country’s GDP, Italian outlet Pagella Politica noted. Some tourism leaders and politicians have already expressed frustration with the proposed measure, which they say could deter visitors and have a negative impact on the hospitality sector. Italy is also under pressure from a rising public debt, which could reach 140% this year, the Financial Times added.
Past tourist taxes have produced mixed results
Several popular tourist destinations in Europe have recently implemented or increased their tourist taxes, National Geographic reported, but the levies have had mixed results. In Barcelona, ​​two rates — one of which has increased from €0.75 ($0.80) per night in 2021 to €3.25 in 2024 — have failed to deter tourists from visiting the city, but the city council expects to collect more than $100 million from them in 2024, which officials say will help improve residents’ quality of life. In Amsterdam, a high tourist tax may only encourage visitors to stay outside the city and commute during the day, a university lecturer told the magazine — which wouldn’t reduce the number of tourists but would reduce the income locals can make from lodging.
