Overtourism is, quite frankly, everywhere right now. This year alone, tonnes of go-to travel destinations have been upping their entry fees – in fact there have been so many that we compiled a comprehensive roundup of how much it’ll cost you to enter destinations all over the world.
But the headline act has gotta be Venice’s trial of the €5 day-tripper entry fee that caused a raucous when it was temporarily implemented earlier this year. However, the fee could be here to stay permanently, but that’s not the only place in Italy where it’s about to get more expensive to visit.
In 2023, Italy welcomed a jaw-dropping 60 million international visitors – yep, 60 million – and it’s well known by now that plenty of its most popular holiday spots are buckling under the pressure of just so many people – have a read about the restoration needed on this popular hiking trail.
In response, and in an effort to make tourists ‘more responsible’, the government is taking action. Officials have announced they’re considering slapping a €25-a-night fee (£21) onto tourists’ bills who are staying in several of Italy’s most popular cities.
While that might sound pretty hefty, that’s actually the maximum charge being discussed. What will actually be implemented is a tier system, based on the cost of your accommodation. The proposed fees are as follows, according to the Financial Times:
- Rooms costing €750+: €25 nightly fee
- Rooms costing €400-€750: TBC
- Rooms costing €100-€400: €10 nightly fee
- Rooms costing >€100: €5 nightly fee
But there’s a balance to strike with the amount visitors should be charged. The implementation of the day-tripper fee in Venice attracted a lot of criticism calling it a ‘grand bluff’ which just generated revenue, and did little to deter visitors.
In the same vein, there’s some anxiety from people in the travel industry that fees as high as €25 per night will deter too many visitors. According to the Independent, director of Italian hotel association Confindustria Alberghi Barbara Casillo, warned the government to ‘be very careful’ that the fees don’t ‘scare’ prospective visitors.
‘The [hotel] sector is making an important contribution to the country’s economy, especially with the growth of international travellers, after the difficult years of Covid,’ said Maria Carmela Colaiacovo, president Confindustria Alberghi, ‘But foreign competition is strong and fierce and we need careful policies that do not compromise the competitiveness of our businesses and our destinations.’
None of this has been confirmed so far, so we’ll have to wait and see what the Italian government concludes. For now, here are the best beaches, islands and places to visit in Italy.
Is tourism over?
With cities across Europe are putting their foot down against vast numbers of visitors, and news of yet more destinations capping short-term holiday lets, it’s a bit of a contentious time to be a tourist right now. We even recently delved into the big, big question: Can our favourite European cities ever recover from overtourism?
However, other lesser-known destinations are opening their arms to tourists. This Sicilian town is flogging houses for as little as €3, and this Spanish region is offering nomads up to €15,000 to move there. Plus, plenty of destinations could do with more visitors – check them out here.
Did you see that these are Europe’s best (and most underrated) hiking trails in 2024?
Plus: What is the ‘Temple Run Challenge’ and why are conservationists condemning it?
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