Comments on: this week’s newsletter http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/07/23/this-weeks-newsletter-10/ Dialogue with the readers of the newsletter Buongiorno Venezia Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:22:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Kjell Magne Maelen http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/07/23/this-weeks-newsletter-10/#comment-1615 Kjell Magne Maelen Wed, 17 Oct 2007 07:28:01 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/07/23/this-weeks-newsletter-10/#comment-1615 Tourist tax and entrance fee. As to the Government proposal for a new tourist tax for Italian art towns and the AVA's (Association Venetian Hoteliers) decision against it, I would like to comment that a tax or fee of some kind seem to be needed to cover the costs of the continuous and various tearing and wearing down of Venice. I would however like to say that as far as my experiences as a tourist go a (small) tax will not reduce the number of tourists coming to Venice if that was the aim of the taxation or fee. A tax or fee would merely function as a support to the countinous maintaining of the city's infrastructures. Hence, I would recommend that one should utilize an established collection system through which the needed infrastructure organisations normally get funding for their business operations. An example is the 6 Euro ticket price on a vaporetto ticket unless you have a Carta Venezia. It could easily be lifted even more. I also seem to remember that the Venice mayor suggested an increased property tax on properties used to tourist accomodation. That is also an instrument I would support. The reason why the hoteliers can charge the high prices they do to day, is mainly a consequence of a continously increasing market. A small increase in tax on their properties will not scare any tourists away or just regulate their profits. But it will have a positive effect on the city's finances. If the hoteliers are afraid of the money being lost in governmental bureaucracy I would direct the attention to the taxation system of San Francisco, California where a tax on hotel accomodation is directed into a fund for arts and culture run and administered by a board with members from all walks of life in the tourist industry including the hoteliers. Kind regards Kjell Magne Maelen (Norwegian) p.t. with address in Cannaregio Tourist tax and entrance fee.
As to the Government proposal for a new tourist tax for Italian art towns and the AVA’s (Association Venetian Hoteliers) decision against it, I would like to comment that a tax or fee of some kind seem to be needed to cover the costs of the continuous and various tearing and wearing down of Venice. I would however like to say that as far as my experiences as a tourist go a (small) tax will not reduce the number of tourists coming to Venice if that was the aim of the taxation or fee. A tax or fee would merely function as a support to the countinous maintaining of the city’s infrastructures. Hence, I would recommend that one should utilize an established collection system through which the needed infrastructure organisations normally get funding for their business operations. An example is the 6 Euro ticket price on a vaporetto ticket unless you have a Carta Venezia. It could easily be lifted even more. I also seem to remember that the Venice mayor suggested an increased property tax on properties used to tourist accomodation. That is also an instrument I would support. The reason why the hoteliers can charge the high prices they do to day, is mainly a consequence of a continously increasing market. A small increase in tax on their properties will not scare any tourists away or just regulate their profits. But it will have a positive effect on the city’s finances.

If the hoteliers are afraid of the money being lost in governmental bureaucracy I would direct the attention to the taxation system of San Francisco, California where a tax on hotel accomodation is directed into a fund for arts and culture run and administered by a board with members from all walks of life in the tourist industry including the hoteliers.

Kind regards
Kjell Magne Maelen (Norwegian)
p.t. with address in Cannaregio

]]> By: Fabian Babich http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/07/23/this-weeks-newsletter-10/#comment-1918 Fabian Babich Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:59:45 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/07/23/this-weeks-newsletter-10/#comment-1918 Your Nov 27 Newsletter reports that "on Tuesday, 20 November, a 24-year-old Venetian man attempted suicide by jumping from the Rialto Bridge." Il Ponte Rialto is truly an elegant venue, but hardly an effective choice from which to suicide. Your Nov 27 Newsletter reports that “on Tuesday, 20 November, a 24-year-old Venetian man attempted suicide by jumping from the Rialto Bridge.” Il Ponte Rialto is truly an elegant venue, but hardly an effective choice from which to suicide.

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