Tourist taxes

[Mervyn and Trish]

What are folks thoughts on the various places imposing tourist taxes these days?

I can understand the concern about over tourism in some places but can't help feeling these charges are really a way to screw more money out of people than seriously to refuse numbers. Especially as many places imposing them have no industry or income other than tourism.

Take Venice as an example. The authorities already have a substantial income from the taxes imposed on tourist businesses. The level of daily charge won't reduce numbers at all. If someone is really wanting to visit it's not going to put them off.

If they seriously want to reduce numbers here's how to do it. Ban day visitors completely. It's easy to control arrivals in Venice because there are only limited ways in. So only permit arrivals who (a) live there, (b) work there, or (c) have a confirmed reservation for two nights minimum in a hotel, apartment etc. Turn the rest away.

Problem solved.

[Ray B]

At one time they were building new and bigger airports and improving port facilities for more cruise ships to welcome more and more tourists. Now some places seem to have over cooked it and are now seeing themselves pushed out.
Maybe they have allowed big organisations to populate the tourist areas and reap all the benefits leaving them with the crumbs.
Don't know the answer to this only that the very people that brought a lot of prosperity to these places are now not wanted.

[Stephen]

It’s sinking anyway so they’ll be looking to move somewhere else one day, like the UK…..after they’ve paid the tax of course

[allatc]

I suspect that day trippers to Venice, including cruise passengers, actually spend very little whilst there, partly due to the high prices.

[Onelife]

I suspect that day trippers to Venice, including cruise passengers, actually spend very little whilst there, partly due to the high prices.

Good Point.

[Slapstick]

I suspect that day trippers to Venice, including cruise passengers, actually spend very little whilst there, partly due to the high prices.

Exactly, not surprising when you hear some of the horror stories.

Last time I was there one couple were robbed of €300 for a meal, a couple of pizzas and desserts.

[Stephen]

When we were in Venice back in 2006 on a Oriana cruise we looked at all the posh clothed tables and waiters in St marks square but wouldn't dream of eating or even having a coffee there. Yet just a few hundred yards away down an alley we found a nice little place to stop for refreshments. And the wallet didn't have a heart attack either.

[Onelife]

We did the same Stephen…which kiosk did you use?

[Stephen]

Al's Paccino place.

[oldbluefox]

I think it's a good idea IF the money is invested in areas which improve the visitor experience and facilities.

If you go abroad many countries have a tourist tax, certainly in Germany and Switzerland. In return you get public loos, parking, a good local bus service, maps, leaflets on local attractions etc. Invariably for a longer stay you get a booklet giving discounts in many of the shops, no doubt to drum up business but 10% off is money back in your pocket. It means those who are enjoying the benefits of tourist attractions and facilities are the ones paying for them. I have no issue with Venice charging those who are coming into the place as long as the money is invested into the tourist industry.

I would certainly like to see the same applied up here in the Lake District and used to pay for schemes to address parking issues, footpath repair and preservation of the countryside which is what people come to see. The same applies to other areas of the country.

[Mervyn and Trish]

If that was what it was about I'd agree. But nowhere do they say it's to improve facilities. It's to trouser a few extra Euros.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I suspect that day trippers to Venice, including cruise passengers, actually spend very little whilst there, partly due to the high prices.

So no loss if they simply banned them then!

[oldbluefox]

If that was what it was about I'd agree. But nowhere do they say it's to improve facilities. It's to trouser a few extra Euros.

That's why I said IF.
It would help if they spent some of it on clearing up the dog sh** and cleaning up their canals!!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Anyway I'm coming to the Lake District this summer instead. Venice's loss is your gain!

[Stephen]

Anyway I'm coming to the Lake District this summer instead. Venice's loss is your gain!

Don’t forget your wallet , Foxy will be expecting a donation at the border crossing.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I know what he looks like. I can dodge him.

[david63]

Perhaps I am missing the point (I normally do) but do the cruise ships not pay a large amount of money to Venice (other ports are available) for the privilege of docking in their port? Apart from cruise passengers I am not sure how many other "day trippers" there are in Venice.

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I was up in the Lakes last week and if you haven't been and you have deep pockets then I can recommend The Samling overlooking Windermere.

[Ray B]

Maybe cruise pasengers (not all) are tight fisted and don't spend ashore because they have all the food they want on the ship.
We do spend ashore and have lunch and a drink when we fancy it. We dined last time we were in Venice at a canal side restaurant a short distance from the rail station, a Michelin restaurant in Dubrovnik and many different restaurants in Vigo plus many more in the ports we have visited.
We are on holiday and enjoy the odd restaurant meal but the finger points to cruise passengers as frightened to spend ashore. Check the prices first , you don't have to break the bank to enjoy yourselves. I know that I have all the food I want on the ship, but never ever think that way, enjoy different cultures, it's all the makeup of the holiday.
I thought that cruise ships pay a levy on how many pasengers are on board which is in our ticket price, maybe I am wrong, otherwise we are being charged again.

[towny44]

Perhaps I am missing the point (I normally do) but do the cruise ships not pay a large amount of money to Venice (other ports are available) for the privilege of docking in their port? Apart from cruise passengers I am not sure how many other "day trippers" there are in Venice.

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I was up in the Lakes last week and if you haven't been and you have deep pockets then I can recommend The Samling overlooking Windermere.

Do any of P&Os current fleet dock in Venice, or a lagoon port that enables passengers to visit Venice, or are they all now banned because of size?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I can't find any that go further up the Adriatic than Croatia, even the 19 and 21 night ones.

[Stephen]

More info here

Venice recently banned cruise ships over 25,000 GRT (gross tonnage), forcing them to use ports nearby. But which cruise ships can still call into Venice? Luckily, many of our favourite small ship cruise lines are under the maximum GRT and can still sail right into the heart of the Venetian Lagoon.

Venice bans cruise ships from historic centre https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56592109

[Mervyn and Trish]

It looks like they've responded by not going at all.

[Onelife]

Most world heritage sites encourage you to use public transport when visiting, so with this in mind I don’t think most cruise ship passengers would be so inconvenienced as to have to use public transport in and out of Venice… from different ports. I also think that cruise lines could reschedule excursions that take in evening/late night visits, thus giving passengers a different experience of Venice and at the same time avoid the daytime stampede.

I may well be talking a load of old cobblers, but, hey ho.

[allatc]

Anyway I'm coming to the Lake District this summer instead. Venice's loss is your gain!

We went to the Lake District last June. Our time there coincided with the Midge-fest.

We had 3 rain free days out of 12.

[Mervyn and Trish]

A drought in Lake District terms then!