Turmoil in Italy over plan to hike tourist tax

Overtourism, which is already causing headaches from Venice to the Italian Riviera, risks costing travellers dearly as Rome considers hiking the tourist tax to make them "more responsible" -- and raise cash.

According to a draft decree that emerged this summer, Giorgia Meloni's government is mulling raising the tourist tax -- currently around five euros a night -- to 10 euros for rooms costing 100 euros, 15 for those costing more than 400, and 25 euros for luxury suites costing over 750 euros.

The proposal has sparked anger among tourism groups, which fear it could act as a deterrent.

"We mustn't scare away tourists with taxes that are too high," Marina Lalli, head of professional body Federturismo, said.

"We already have a very high rate of VAT (sales tax), at 22 per cent, and if we add new taxes we risk damaging Italy's competitiveness, especially for all-inclusive, organised trips."

Bernarbo Bocca, president of hoteliers association Federalberghi, in May accused the government of treating "hotels as ATMs".

After news of the proposed tax increase made headlines abroad, Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche at the weekend rejected "unfounded alarmism" -- but did not deny the plan.

"At a time of overtourism we are discussing (the tourist tax) so it can be a real help to improve services and make the tourists who pay it more responsible," she wrote on social media in early August.

Italy is the fourth most popular tourist destination in the world, welcoming 57.2 million foreign tourists last year who spent $55.9 billion, according to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

In front of the Duomo, Milan's majestic cathedral, tourists jostling among the pigeons to take selfies this week were divided over the possible tax increase.

"Increasing the tax would be profiteering. I would go elsewhere, to other countries that didn't have such a tax," said Fabea Wiegand, a 25-year-old economics student from Switzerland.

But Liam Roth, a 25-year-old computer science student from Zurich, backed the proposal.

"Increasing the tax is a good measure, I understand that the Milanese are bothered by tourists. We are part of the problem," he told AFP.

A government source told AFP that consultations with the industry and local authorities were continuing.