Italy, like with many other famous vacation spots in southern European nations, has been struggling to deal with an increase in the number of visitors visiting the country.
The parliamentarians in Italy are now debating whether or not to increase the tax that is levied on hotel rooms, which might result in vacationers being subjected to a new levy for each and every night that they spend in the nation.
The decision was made in response to concerns that excessive tourism is causing damage to Italian towns and driving members of the local population away from their homes.
On Friday, the Italian Minister of Tourism, Daniele Santanche, tweeted from her official account saying she is taking into consideration the new suggestion.
She concluded by writing: “In times of over-tourism, we are debating this so that it really helps improve services and make tourists who pay it more responsible.”
Among the most significant worries is the possibility that an excessive number of tourists will lead to an increase in the cost of living as well as the gentrification of places that are especially popular with tourists.
According to a report by the Financial Times, the possibility exists that the fee, which is presently between €1 and €5 per person, each night, might be increased to €25 (£21).
It is generally accepted that the new idea will be imposed on hotel rooms, with the most costly hotels being subject to the tax equivalent to the top limit of twenty-one pounds.
According to reports that were published in the Telegraph, the policy will be broken down further, alleging that rooms that cost less than €100 (£84) per night would be reduced to the present limit of €5 (£4.21) per person, each night. This will increase to €10 (£8.42) a night for rooms that cost between €100 and €399 (£335), and it will increase to €15 (£12.63) for rooms that cost between €400 (£336) and €749 (£630).
As part of the idea, the highest possible tariff would be imposed to hotels that charge more than €750 (£631) per night.
This decision comes at a time when a number of the most prominent tourist destinations in Europe are also implementing additional fees for visitors.
The municipal council of Barcelona made the announcement in June that it would prohibit the renting of apartments to tourists by the year 2028. This move is being made in an effort to make housing more affordable for the city’s citizens.
During this year, inhabitants of both the Canary Islands and Barcelona have demonstrated against the detrimental impacts of overtourism. This comes at a time when both cities have been experiencing demonstrations.
Barbara Casillo, the director of the Italian hotel group Confindustria Alberghi, said to the local media that “We must tread very carefully.”
“We are not doing a good service to the country if we give the impression that we want to take what we can, which is likely to scare tourists who come to visit us,”
It is predicted that tourism accounts for over 6% of Italy’s GDP, with approximately 60 million visitors being expected to visit the country in 2023 alone.
The date on which the revised plan will be put to a vote by the Italian parliament is not yet known.