kfscala
11-12-2006, 05:57 PM
Isn't it just outrageous that now they are proposing to impose a "tourist tax" on both domestic and foreign tourists? Hotel accomodation, and train and air fares are already expensive and now they want to ask more money from the tourists? Sounds like a good way to discourage tourism.
See the article published by ANSA
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news-detailed.asp?newsid=3613
Well, these proposed laws are not in effect yet and hopefully they never will be. Hotels are expensive enough when travelling around Italy, and even bed and breakfasts are not always cheap. Adding a tax of two to five euros a day is substantial. I assume it will discourage people from travelling even to a city like Rome. It will certainly affect the tourist who travels alone, as the tourists travelling with tour companies and groups would get discounts... Imposing a tourist tax just gives more affluent people the ability to enjoy places like Rome and Florence more, leaving the less affluent traveler with less options and even choosing not to travel altogether. Something just seems very wrong here with this whole concept of "tourist taxing". And, will the extra money that is collected from the tourists be used in an appropriate way? It is hard to imagine what these monies would be used for..."cleaning, maintenance and security costs"? I find this hard to believe, if not an excuse to extract money out of people. Well, hopefully such things as public restroom facilities could be built and improved, especially for those people travelling with children; this is a neglected area. But my experience has been that new restroom facilities are already demanding payment upon entrance (e.g. trains stations), so I really wonder if in the end tourists will just have their pocket books cleaned out even more when being forced to pay more taxes? And, is it really fair to impose this tax on the people who are resident here in Italy?
kfscala
See the article published by ANSA
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news-detailed.asp?newsid=3613
Well, these proposed laws are not in effect yet and hopefully they never will be. Hotels are expensive enough when travelling around Italy, and even bed and breakfasts are not always cheap. Adding a tax of two to five euros a day is substantial. I assume it will discourage people from travelling even to a city like Rome. It will certainly affect the tourist who travels alone, as the tourists travelling with tour companies and groups would get discounts... Imposing a tourist tax just gives more affluent people the ability to enjoy places like Rome and Florence more, leaving the less affluent traveler with less options and even choosing not to travel altogether. Something just seems very wrong here with this whole concept of "tourist taxing". And, will the extra money that is collected from the tourists be used in an appropriate way? It is hard to imagine what these monies would be used for..."cleaning, maintenance and security costs"? I find this hard to believe, if not an excuse to extract money out of people. Well, hopefully such things as public restroom facilities could be built and improved, especially for those people travelling with children; this is a neglected area. But my experience has been that new restroom facilities are already demanding payment upon entrance (e.g. trains stations), so I really wonder if in the end tourists will just have their pocket books cleaned out even more when being forced to pay more taxes? And, is it really fair to impose this tax on the people who are resident here in Italy?
kfscala