The European Tour Operators Association has sent an open letter to Rome to plea for it to rethink its visitor tax plans.
The letter was sent by chief executive director Tom Jenkins and highlights the fragile nature of travel decision making, saying the tax could be enough to dissuade visitors to the city.
The levy is supposed to take effect from January 1 next year but as yet it is unclear how much it will be and how it will be collected.
The letter says: “It still seems, but there is no certainty, that the tax will be imposed irrespective of when a client books or how far in advance they paid.
"It is an involuntary imposition of a fee on a consumer: they cannot cancel without forfeiting their prepayment, and they cannot stay without paying this new charge.
"Not only are clients trapped. As their customers pay in full and in advance, operators cannot return to their clients and levy this tax. Nor are their margins sufficient to carry this loss. The only option is for hotels to charge clients individually upon departure.
It concludes: "Such taxes are always a bad move. The impulse to travel is fragile, even when dealing with the most famous destination. It takes a very particular form of city to place a price on its attractiveness.
"But what is lamentable is the notice period. The travel industry has a planning cycle of 18 months. If you are taxing us in a way that is bearable, this length of time has to be given.”
by Dinah Hatch
