Visitor Tax impacts Rome

In the USA, there was much talk of continuing the “Bush Tax cuts” as 2011 approached. Lots of controversy, lots of jousting, and the result – tax status quo for many folks.

In Rome, unfortunately, there are new taxes for 2011 – and they apply specifically to you, the VISITOR. The new tourist tax took effect January 1, 2011. This tax will apply to all non-residents who participate in “tourist” activities. For example, tourists will pay an extra €2 per person per night if staying in hotels up to a three-star rating, and an extra €3 per person per night if they stay in a four-star or five-star hotel. The tax is applied only to the first ten days and children under 10 years of age are NOT taxed. B&B’s and apartments also fall under these rules.

Campsites are also being taxed, at the rate of €1 per person for the first five days of your stay. Currently youth hostels are exempt from the tax, but who knows when or if this policy will change. In addition, tourists (read non-locals) will be charged an additional €1 extra for entrance to museums and popular sites.

The tax revenue is supposed to go to rebuilding Rome’s cultural heritage and infrastructure. The government projects they will earn about €80 million from the 30 million visitors that come to Rome annually. If the money is properly directed, it could make a substantial difference in the future of Rome’s sites!

Arriving in Rome, a tourist is already subjected to many “additional” charges and challenges:

First, when you arrive at the airport, you pay an “airport tax.” For this, you’ll wait at least 30 minutes for your luggage … and I was there once when they went on strike for an hour!

Next you have to find your way into town. A ticket in the Leonardo Express will run you €14. Unlike Madrid, Copenhagen, Athens, etc. there is no metro to run you into town. I guess previous tax dollars were not spent on this. Your options are limited and you may have to wait 30 minutes for the next LE train. If you take the local train, signage and support will be limited. For us locals, it’s easy – for a first-timer, it could be intimidating.

To give you a perspective on the price changes… in early 2010 the LE train was only €11 and the local train (FR1) was €5.50. Overnight the prices were raised 27% and 45% increases. There were no improvements to the services, the train cars – just a price increase. in addition, in 2011 the taxi fares from FCO to downtown jumped to €45.

If you rent a car from the airport, you’re charged an airport tax. If you drive your rental car into the wrong part of downtown Rome, you’ll be hit with a €75-100 ZTL violation – every time you pass a ZTL sign. Unfortunately many hotels are in the central area… At Roma Termini, your train ticket includes a train station surcharge.

Driving, you’ll face high gas rate that include substantial state taxes. And of course you’ll have to pay a toll on the autostrada. If you are a non-EU citizen, and your country has no agreement with Italy, you and your children are not eligible for any discounts at sites, monuments, etc.

Unfortunately, these are the costs of coming to Rome… but despite this, it is still one of the most visited cities in the world. This “new” tourist tax is actually not new. Rome had a similar tax like this almost twenty years ago. So the past has returned – how very Roman!

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