Visitors to the historic Italian city of Venice will be charged a tourist tax from next month to fund a £20m restoration project planned by the local council. Holidaymakers staying in the lagoon city will pay an extra fee on top of their hotel room charge from August 24 which will go towards protecting and renovating the city, which is slowly sinking. The fee will be charged on a sliding scale, depending on the star rating of the hotel, and is designed to cash in on the lucrative city break market.
On average 60,000 people visit Venice each day, many of them Britons, and the city is known as one of the top destinations for romantic weekend breaks in Europe. Sandro Simionato, Venice deputy mayor, defended the tax for La Serenissima as it is known, insisting that the city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site was at risk. Mr Simionato said: 'This tax is a new and important opportunity for the city. 'The fundamental objective, which will also involve tourists who visit and love Venice, is to save this unique city, which is precious and fragile. 'The tax will help finance tourism, maintenance of cultural heritage sites, the environment, as well as public services.'
Visitors at a five star hotel will have to pay a 5 euro levy per person per night. Rates then drop by a euro according to the hotel rating, while there are also different tariff for those staying on the neighbouring islands and Lido - five-star hotels incur a 4.50 euro per person per night charge.
This drops by 70 per cent as the hotel rating drops and the tax is halved during the low season, with peak times being between April and October, Christmas, Easter and the Carnival in February. The tax applies to the first five nights of any stay and therefore deliberately aimed at the 'short break market' as the majority of people stay in Venice for a long weekend. Residents are exempt from the tax, as are children under ten, although those aged 11-16 will pay 50 per cent, and those that are staying at dedicated health centres for medical reasons will also be free. The tax comes in from August 24 and an extra five euro a night is unlikely to worry guests who stay in the newly refurbished Guinness suites at the Hotel Cipriani, not when you are handing over more than 3500 euros for a bed.
Initially Venice Council had considered charging tourists at dedicated entry points at they arrived, either at the main train station, airport or cruise terminal. However this was dropped in favour for a tax on those staying in the city and it follows a similar scheme that was introduced in Rome earlier this year.
Last year Venice also caused controversy when it used a series of high profile large advertising billboards on famous buildings across the city for Coca Cola and Bulgari.
The city is slowly sinking and high tides every winter bring flooding to the famous St Mark's Square and surrounding streets and some campaigners have suggested reducing visitors is the only way forward.
Earlier this month environmental campaign group Italia Nostra (Our Italy) warned the city risked 'losing its soul to mass tourism' adding that numbers should be capped with more high spending tourists encouraged. In an attempt to save the city, a £3bn flood barrier, named Moses, consisting of 78 giant steel gates is being built to help stop the tidal surge from the Adriatic and is due to be completed in 2014.