Travelers to Venice have to pay to see the historic canals and islands, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to the Italian city, in order to control tourist traffic and “protect residents”, the Water City will limit the capacity of tourist groups to 25 people, about half the capacity of a tour bus, to prevent “disruption”. It has been announced that the use of loudspeakers that cause harm will be prohibited. During the summer, crowds formed in St. Mark's Square, the city's main square, causing bridges to back up and tourists witnessing overflowing trash cans.
The city says the biggest culprits are day trippers, who don't bring much economic value to the city, such as dining at local hotels and restaurants, and still put pressure on the city's infrastructure. In 2022, 30 million people visited the Canal City, but only 3.2 million stayed overnight in the historic city center.
Nathan Heinrich, an American writer and designer who holds dual Italian citizenship and lives on the outskirts of Venice, “refuses to visit the city during the tourist season, even if friends and family are staying there. It's so crazy,” American writer and designer Nathan Heinrich told America. today.
This year, the city will test a new 5 euro ($5.44) per person entrance fee for day-trippers during 29 peak days from April to mid-July. To enforce the fee, daytime visitors must register online and download her QR code, and officials will randomly ask for authentication. If travelers don't have a code, they can pay the tax on the spot and an additional fine of up to 100 euros ($108.82).
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The news makes Venice the latest popular destination to increase prices for tourists. Last year, Amsterdam announced a 12.5% increase in tourism tax, the highest in Europe. Closer to home in Hawaii, a widely supported bill that would have forced tourists to pay a $50 pass to enjoy the island's natural beauty failed to pass in May.
The demand to see and experience new places continues to grow, and many popular destinations are adding and increasing prices to target vast numbers of travelers.
“There are concerns about overtourism and the strain it puts on local infrastructure, the impact it has on the environment and, frankly, overtourism is just a revenue stream,” said World, a travel advice company and collective of travel brands. said Jason Block, CEO of Via Travel Group. America today. “If you look at these places that rely heavily on tourism as an industry, especially those that are slowly trying to claw back after losing a lot of their income in the pandemic. , we're seeing it being rolled out in other destinations as well.”
Experts believe these fees are the future of travel, and here's how they will affect travelers.
What is a tourist tax?
Block said tourism taxes are “something that almost every destination has in place in some form” as a way to generate revenue from tourists.
Almost all destinations have a lodging tax, which is automatically added to your final hotel bill. Honolulu raised its lodging tax two years ago, adding up to 18% to hotel room rates. At your destination, similar fees will be added to your final ticket price and, if you're traveling by cruise ship, port fees.
More destinations are increasing these prices to match increased demand. Aruba will raise its accommodation tax from 9% to 12.5% in January 2023, and Amsterdam is also set to increase it from 7% to 12.5% this year.
Entrance fees like Venice and the UK's upcoming e-visas are new concepts, but Mr Block fully expects them to remain.
“Accommodation taxes have always existed, but we're seeing places where they have separate items such as environmental taxes, levies, or entrance fees,” Block said. “You'll see three, four, five items. So it could start with a simple hotel transaction, a short weekend flight, a hotel stay or an activity, and it could end up being subject to a variety of taxes.”
Where does the tourism tax revenue go?
It's not all bad news for travelers, Block says.
Money from tourism taxes is more likely to be reinvested in the destination. While this revenue is typically aimed at improving the lives of residents, “it also makes the travel experience better,” Block said. “One of the worst things you can do is pay for your dream trip to Venice only to have a terrible experience with overflowing sewers or bad roads.”
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Iceland, known for its striking natural beauty, has announced that it will expand its accommodation tax to protect the environment for future generations. The fee increase is also in line with the country's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040.
“Tourists are enjoying (these resources) so they should foot some of the bill,” Block said.
How does the tourism tax affect tourists?
it depends. Block said problems with a lack of transparency could increase as more places introduce more fees. He added that it's important for travelers to carefully check the airfare and hotel room breakdowns, rather than basing their budgets on advertised prices.
These fees may seem trivial at first, but they can quickly add up. “When you add up his weekly expenses for a family of four, even if he's sharing her room in a hotel, it doesn't matter,” Block said. Room rates in Paris are a flat 4 euros ($4.35) per person per night. So for a family of four he would stay for 7 nights, adding 112 euros ($121.88) to the hotel bill.
Nevertheless, many travelers support these new fees if they mean they contribute to the sustainability of the destination.
“It's a beautiful place, with its canals and narrow alleyways, but the sheer volume of visitors is putting a strain on it,” said Cayden Roberts, a digital nomad who visited in 2023. “If we introduce a tourist tax here, we can make a lot of money.'' It's not just about making money. It's about keeping Venice beautiful and preserving its cultural and historical treasures. ”
American designer Heinrich doesn't think tourists will continue planning their trip without paying attention to the price. “If you can afford to travel to Italy, you can probably do a day trip into the city for a few extra euros,” he says.
Some worry that increasing tourism taxes will negatively impact access for budget travelers, but solutions are difficult to find. “This could be the start of a slippery slope of exclusivity that puts popular and important tourist destinations behind paywalls,” said Heather Rameau, a content creator for a Washington, D.C.-based travel brand. ” he said. Look at that beautiful place. ”
“Do we need to better regulate and manage the number of people visiting popular tourist destinations, especially those with sensitive ecosystems or at risk due to climate change or other factors? Yes ” she added. “But is charging more money the way to make that happen? I'm not sure.”
Where is the highest tourist tax?
- Amsterdam – 12.5% of the nightly rate
- Barcelona – up to €6.25 ($6.80) per person per night
- Paris – approximately 4 euros ($4.35) per person per night
- Dominican Republic: 23% of the hotel price consists of tax
- Antigua and Barbuda – $100 entry/exit fee
- Honolulu – up to 18% of the nightly rate
