{
  "id": 6596498,
  "title": "Much of Europe already levies a tourist tax – a nice little earner for Italian hotspots",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/much-of-europe-already-levies-a-tourist-tax-a-nice-little-earner-for",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-10T13:57:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/10/europe-tourist-tax-italian-hotspots-england"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Italy, various municipalities have adopted a nightly tourist tax, a practice that foreign visitors often find unfamiliar and surprising. While England is just starting to explore this idea, European countries have been implementing such taxes for many years. The first recorded introduction of a tourist tax dates back to Austria in 1842, targeting guests of spa and wellness resorts. Over time, similar measures were adopted in France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, aiming to alleviate costs for local residents caused by wealthy tourists.\n\nItaly's approach to the tourist tax has evolved over the years, with the tax being initially expanded to cover all tourist destinations during Benito Mussolini's fascist regime. The tax was later abolished for the World Cup in 1990 when Italy welcomed more visitors, but it was reinstated nationally in 2011, with Rome being the first city to reintroduce the levy. Nightly fees typically range from €1 to €10 per person, with five-star hotels in Milan charging up to €12.\n\nIn 2024, Italy's tourist tax generated significant revenue, with Rome collecting €222.4 million, followed by Milan (€109.3 million), Florence (€82.9 million), and Venice (€38.9 million). These funds are intended to support local services, particularly in towns and cities struggling with overtourism, or for maintaining monuments. However, cash-strapped municipalities often utilize the tax for other expenditures, despite the intended purpose.\n\nGianluca De Gaetano, the manager of the Rome unit for Federalberghi, the hotels' association, noted that municipalities welcome the tax as it provides much-needed funds. Tourists, however, are generally unaware of the tax's existence and tend to accept it without complaint. De Gaetano mentioned that visitors often complain about the city's services being subpar, especially when they have already paid a substantial amount for their accommodation.",
  "summary": "While England makes its first foray into unfamiliar territory, it’s proved a boon for Italy’s cash-strapped municipalities A nightly tourist tax may be unfamiliar territory in the UK , but countries in continental Europe have been cashing in on these kinds of levies for decades. Tourists usually need to pay the tax on the day they check out of a hotel or holiday let, and are often surprised by an…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}