Venice Tourist Tax Draws Ire Of Cruise Industry

Venice is slapping a tax on visitors, and the cruise industry isn’t happy.

In a move approved recently by the Italian government, Venice officials will charge visitors up to 10 Euros each in a move some hope will ease the crushing flow of tourists that clamber out of cruise ships and tour buses each year.

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Venice is said to host some 24 million visitors a year, some 15 million of them day-trippers.

It’s not clear how the tax would work, but it appears the fee will be included in the cost of cruise ship tickets or bus or train tickets.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting the tax will range from two and-a-half Euros to 10 Euros, depending on whether visitors arrive in high season or quiet times of the year.

Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice, hailed the move as “historic.”

“In this way we can start addressing Venice’s many extra expenses,” he said.

“Our historic city centres are museums, and, as with museums, it is right that visitors should pay to see them,” said Bernabo Bocca, president of Federalberghi, a national hotel group.

Cruise Lines International Association officials aren’t happy with the tax.

“CLIA and its members are disappointed that the Italian government supported the proposal to introduce a local entrance tax for visitors to Venice in its recent budget bill,” the organization said in a statement. “We will wait to see how the Venice authorities take this forward before responding further.”

CLIA’s position is understandable. Not only would it make Venice more expensive, the Italian move could easily spark similar measures in other world cities that have complained of what some call “over-tourism.”

Protests against too many visitors have taken place in recent years in cities across Europe, including Barcelona and Amsterdam. The Venice tax could be the tip of the proverbial iceberg.