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As a sort of follow-up to glendon1's posting below on "why encourage people to come to your country then tax them?", I just noticed that Venice has followed Rome's lead and is now (as of August) charging a per night tax on tourists, ranging in high season in hotels from 0.60 to 5 euro per night. (note: in Venice, according to the City, "high season" is 275 days a year)...:-0 So what do you think? Makes sense or cheesy way to nip tourists for a few more dollars? Note: in the US, it is quite common for the convention and visitors bureaus in our cities to be funded by hotel/motel taxes, so maybe we shouldn't point fingers ;-) Bill
Bill, I try not to think about taxes at all. Well, the truth is I'm against any new taxes in general.
I'm quite happy to pay city/tourist taxes. I see absolutely no reason whatsoever why locals should be expected to fully fund all the 'extras' visitors may require (and this includes the massive costs of restoration/renovation/reconstruction of ancient sites). I see no reason whatsoever why I, as someone who is privileged enough to be able to travel, should not make a contribution to the community I am visiting. We are not talking vast amounts here. The taxes I paid in US hotels were indeed high, agreed, but city/tourist taxes in Europe are not the same at all. If tourist taxes help Venice to stay afloat, so to speak, then I'm all for them. Venice wouldn't exist at all if it were not for its visitors, and if people want it to continue to exist then a tourist tax is a good way of raising money.
If tourist taxes help Venice to stay afloat" heh heh, well said ;-) Bill
In Austria we also have a tax called "Kurtaxe" payed by each hotel to the city, between 1 and 3 euros per day and guest and it is included in the hotelrate, so travellers dont realize they payed that. If it helps Venice to survive, 5 euros is OK for me!
Yeah, it's kind of funny when you think about it - why not charge visitors? But earlier this year, Rome started a tourist tax and everyone got all upset about it...I think the problem was that hotels weren't allowed to roll it into their rates - that is, your room costs 100 euro and 2 or 3 euro tax...for some reason, it rubbed everyone the wrong way... And the comment about Venice is right...the City charges tourists something like 6.50 euro for a single vaporetto ride while it costs a resident only 1 euro - this was done simply to try to keep the tourists from overloading the system and preventing the residents from using their own mass transit... Bill
I don't mind the tax if it is included in the price. That way I can just decide if the price more than I want to spend or not. I just don't like the added bits that make planning within a budget more difficult.
having been in Venice last week, I had to choke on the 70 euro for a basic room but the 1 euro each tax did not bother me. Whitefish Montana charges more tourist tax then that.
A couple of Euros doesn't do me any harm, but the aggregate millions really helps them. I've got no problem with it, given the wear and tear we inflict on ancient places that need to be kept from falling down.
Hey, I have an idea...how about you donate all those rocks in your fields to Venice where they can use them to make a jetty or shore up the city??? ;-) Bill
They'd be welcome to come get them, but unfortunately I left those fields a long time back.
Congratulations. It's always been a pleasure meeting you. more
