Published on : Wednesday, January 2, 2019
For this year, Italy’s budget has a clause facilitating Venice to impose the fee, which will in particular aim day-trippers coming on cruise ships.
By now, tourists pay a similar “landing tax” when they visit the tiny Aeolian Islands in Italy.
Venetians have long criticized mass tourism for inundating the city, adored for its quaint canals.
Every year hundreds of cruise ships tie up in Venice, permitting over a million passengers to witness the sights of the city.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stated that the “landing tax” would churn out much-needed income to keep the city clean.
It is anticipated to be set at €2.50 to €5 per person, however at peak times in the summer it has the possibility to rise to €10. Venice is all set to have the tax in place for this New Year high season.
It will be prevalent only to the tourists, but it is not clear whether it will restore a city tax already levied on hotel occupants. That tax brings in €30m per annum, but the “landing tax” could generate more – an estimated €50m.
Claudio Scarpa, head of the Venice hotel managers’ association Ava, said, “the principle is that whoever visits from morning to evening, contributing just a tiny amount to the revenue from tourism, but imposing costs on our services, must understand that it’s not all there for free”