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Italy plans new tax for tourists

This is not a done deal yet - but it seems likely:

Italian towns will be allowed to tax tourists up to five euros ($6.30; Â£3.40) per day in the 2007 budget put forward by Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Income from the accommodation tax, which would be payable by Italian tourists too, would have to be spent on tourism structures and services.

I think it is an interesting and perhaps necessary step. There is some evidence of tourism being flat year over year in Italy, but overall, from what we see with our own eyes and hear from Italians and the news here, a lot of the most visited cities and monuments throughout Italy are crumbling. Tourism and tourists (including Italian tourists) are overwhelming many of these spots. If the money raised from this tax went directly into preserving the treasures of Italy, it would be a good thing.