Venice to launch new tourist tax next month

Venice will introduce a tourist tax next month, adding up to € 25 per person to the cost of visiting the city.

Mayors of the Veneto region have approved the accommodation tax, which is expected to earn the city € 20m a year to be spent on vital restoration work.

The tax must be voted through by Venice Council but, according to the European Tour Operators Association, this is seen as a formality and the tax will come in on July 1.

The tax, which will apply to all visitors aged 10 and over, is similar to the one proposed for Florence. It will cost visitors € 1 per person per night per star of hotel category up to a maximum of five nights.

In the low season, from November to February, the tax is expected to be lowered and non four and five-star hotels on the mainland and smaller islands will be charged less.

With permission from Travelmole