Increased tourist tax: Stop Federalberghi Florence

"In our hotels in a year 6,776 million visitors: as it would make the City increased by 50 cents per night? And as it would be used this treasure?"The President will ask Bechi a meeting with the commissioners of Tourism and the Budget, you say: "Ready to dialogue".

"We declared and we remain strongly opposed to the application of an increase of the tourist tax as announced by the City of Florence. We must consider that the tax already weighs significantly on the pockets of tourists and an additional burden could be a disincentive to choose as the destination Florence, which already boasts the highest fee of Italy, with the sole exception of Rome. Also because the hypothesis that the Councillor for Tourism Bettarini mentioned is that of a general increase of 50 cents per night. Una soluzione senza nessun carattere di progressività, that would affect all but inevitable especially so on smaller structures. So that for a two-star hotel would represent well the 25% increase ". So the president of Federalberghi Florence, Francesco Bechi, ask that in the coming days for an urgent meeting with the Minister of Tourism and that the Budget.

"According to the latest data on the 2014, in the city of Florence were recorded 6,776 million visitors - continues Bechi - think of the revenue that would be generated by an increase in 50 cents per night, that would end all in the coffers of the City. We want to understand what it will take for this extraordinary, because we consider it appropriate that it should be used to improve the tourist reception as required by law. Also become increasingly burdensome for hoteliers carry out the task of debt collector on behalf of the City ".

"Tourism can not be considered a cash cow because in recent years is the only sector to be growing - said the president of Federalberghi Florence - but that's indeed nurtured and strengthened because it is proving capable of hauling for our economy. We are as always willing to confrontation and to do our part to help improve the image and quality of life of the city, but also that the City must listen to us and there is a real dialogue. We have already requested that in any case every decision on fee increases to stay at least slip 2016, so as to honor the contracts already signed, but they should be able to compare specifically and clearly with the commissioners reference, because you create the conditions of a sharing of objectives and strategies ".

Michael Lattanzi

By the number 51 - Year II of 11/02/2015