OPERATORS are faced with the prospect of collecting
cash from coach clients heading to Venice following the sudden announcement of
a 150 euro (£94) tax on tourist vehicles entering the city.
Some admit they will have to take the embarrassing
step of asking passengers to dig out their spare change to pay the charge
because they cannot afford to absorb the cost.
The shock tax is scheduled to begin next Monday
although its introduction is shrouded in confusion. The Venetian authorities
refused to comment after releasing documents explaining how they plan to
collect the money, which will be used to pay for the city’s refuse collection.
It is believed local politicians want to hit operators bringing in day-trippers
because they generate the most rubbish.
National Express chief executive Denis Wormwell said
the company was shocked by the introduction of charges.
“We were aware of the proposal but not of the timing.
No coach operator will have budgeted for this and it will have to be passed on
to customers.
“We have Eurolines services going into Venice every
day. If you multiply 365 days of the year with a 150 euro charge, it’s quite a
considerable amount of money.”
The tax will be levied on every coach capable of
carrying 16 or more passengers and depends on the duration of the stay. For a
one-day permit prices range from 100 euros (£63) for coaches heading for the
Lido area of Venice, to 130 euros (£81) for the mainland and 150 for the city’s
historical centre. For two days the respective charges are 145 euros (£91), 200
euros (£125) and 225 euros (£141).
The money will be collected at a number of checkpoints
dotted around Venice. Coaches will be issued with a colour-coded windscreen
permit which becomes invalid as soon as it is removed. Tourist vehicles found
inside the city without a permit will be wheel-clamped and their drivers fined.
Citalia Holidays head of sales and marketing Michaela
Forster said the tax would hit its Grand Tour of Italy itinerary. “Hopefully
our contracts with local ground handlers will mean we are exempt from the
charge this year, but obviously they will pass on the extra costs to us in the
future,” she said.
Both the European Tour Operators’ Association and
Venice hoteliers are planning legal action this week to try to stop the tax.
ETOA executive director Tom Jenkins said: “Operators will be forced to ask
passengers for extra money. The fact we’ve been given no notice of this is
outrageous.”
News of the Venice tax comes
hot on the heels of a 155 euro (£97) charge being levied on coaches entering
Florence since March 1. Previously the fee was just 55 euros (£34).