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We reported this summer about a potential new nightly hotel tax, and 89 readers commented on how it might affect their plans to visit Rome. Well, that tourist tax is now official.
As of January 1, a hotel stay will cost an extra $4 (€3) per person per night at four- and five-star properties and an extra $2.70 (€2) per person per night at other hotels. (Hostels and kids under age 2 are exempt.) A maximum of 10 nights can be taxed, so you could pay up to an additional $40 per person on your next trip—about the cost of a dinner out. This is in addition to a 10 percent hotel tax that's typically included in the advertised room rate.
The new tax revenue will help to compensate for slashed funding from Italy's national government and will go toward the much-needed restoration of Roman monuments. Cultural treasures are literally crumbling in Rome and across Italy. Three chunks of Roman mortar fell from an arched ceiling at the Colosseum back in May, and a few structures collapsed in Pompeii last month.
So I'll admit that the tax is going to a good cause, and tourists do leave an impact on local monuments. But does that really mean we tourists should be stuck footing the bill? Local councilor Frederico Guidi has readily admitted: "In order for the city of Rome not to tax Romans, we have decided to tax the tourists," according to the Daily Mail.
Venice has similar plans in the works to charge tourists an entry tax of perhaps $1.33 (€1) upon arrival by train, plane, or cruise ship—which means we've got the beginnings of a trend. What's your reaction to these tourist taxes?
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Why do you think Florida has no state income tax?
Posted By ThatCase on December 14, 2010, 8:19 PM
I don't understand it - they are biting the hand that feeds them.
Posted By Steve From TravelingProfessor.com on December 14, 2010, 8:38 PM
Florida has no state income tax because they have a higher property tax than most states. Believe it or not, the sales tax from Disney tourists doesn't make up the differential. That's also why Texas has no state income tax. This is a slippery slope for Rome, Venice, and other European cities considering the taxes. Business travelers will not notice/care and thus rooms will appear to remain full. Over time, however, the European traveler (which accounts for the majority of casual Italian travel) will choose destinations where they won't be railroaded on taxes. Blanket taxes are never the proper route. Perhaps they should add slight fees to these attraction prices if they are in need of repair.
Posted By Mike D on December 15, 2010, 2:28 PM
If I believed for one minute that this money would actually go towards Italian monument and artistic heritage upkeep, I'd happily pay it. Unfortunately, considering that Pompeii alone brings in 50 millions euros a year in admission fees and is crumbling before our eyes, I don't believe that will be the case.
Posted By colleen on December 15, 2010, 9:24 PM
Accepting that not a cent of the money will be used for the advertised purpose, Rome is onto a sure fire thing. For a large self-selecting group it is practically a religious requirement to visit the scene of the crime, and if it should be that this needs reinforcement to maintain visitor numbers, Il Papa may be relied on...
Posted By Paul on December 16, 2010, 7:49 AM
Really, for what I am paying to go to Italy in the spring, another $40 will not make a difference. That is still less than the repriocity fee I paid in Argentina this year, just to enter the country! I do think it is a shame that the money will probably never go to the historical monuments.
Posted By Sabney on December 16, 2010, 1:33 PM
The problem is that they will not use the money to restore the monuments.
The EU gave naples a million dollars for cultural and artistic expenditures....they spent the whole allotment on an elton john concert in naples. they thought it was worth a million dollars to hear him play o sole mio!
Posted By Kate on December 16, 2010, 4:43 PM
To avoid hotel taxes of all kinds, just stay in an apartment.
Posted By dmx on December 16, 2010, 9:47 PM
Many American cities have had ridiculously high hotel taxes for many years, using the proceeds for general city purposes. How can we criticize Rome for doing something similar, and on such a modest scale?
Posted By h s fullerton on December 21, 2010, 6:23 AM