Lake Como intends to implement an admission fee for tourists

Glitzy and dazzling, Lake Como is completely consumed by tourists so intends to implement an admission fee for tourists.

Up to 1.4 million people visit the shores of this third-largest lake in Italy each year.

The northern Italian holiday destination is experiencing an overwhelming influx of tourists, to the point where one city is now thinking of enacting a tourist tax.

Alessandro Rapinese, the mayor of the lakeside city of Como, has indicated that he is considering implementing a daily fee akin to that of Venice, and that it might happen soon.
It is “difficult to be mayor when you are fighting tourism,” according to Rapinese, who has attacked Lake Como’s excessive tourists.

“The idea [of a tourist tax] is already being discussed.” “We are prepared for this lengthy journey, and we believe that revolutions start with concrete measures,” he told the UK newspaper The Times.

Visitors to the city of Como on a daily basis would be charged the fee.
The amount of the fee, who will be responsible for paying it, and when it will take effect are all unknowns disclosed by the mayor.

If he applies the Venice model, the fee might only be imposed on busy days like weekends and public holidays and would only apply to day visitors—not those who have reserved lodging in the city.
‘Hit and run’ tourism has been the focus of efforts, much like in Venice.

“We don’t have enough square meters for all the tourists that come in on a Sunday,” Lecco, a lakeside city, said in a statement to the local press, “I don’t know what happened after COVID.”

There were tales last Sunday of people being pushed onto rail tracks at Como station due to crowding, and of straggling lineups for the boats that span the lake.

“Daytrippers bring little in terms of income,” Beri said. “In fact, all they bring is mountains of rubbish and disruption.”

He added that he was afraid tourists who paid significantly more to stay in hotels would be discouraged from visiting the area, which would benefit the local economy by creating employment and cash.
For several years, the fashionable lake has been facing challenges due to an increase in visitors.

Since a number of celebrities, including as George Clooney, bought multimillion-euro properties along the waterfront and the lake served as the scene for movies like Casino Royale and House of Gucci, the number of visitors has increased dramatically.

Over the summer, a lakefront property that starred in Star Wars and James Bond movies had to restrict the number of guests.

In order to preserve the historic house, Villa del Balbianello limited the number of daily admissions to 1,200.

It is “a drastic decision,” but necessary to fight the effect of “an excess of tourism that has an ever greater impact on Lake Como,” according to the Italian Fund for the Environment (FAI), which manages the property.

Residents may also experience difficulties finding accommodation. Since 2016, there has been a 673 percent increase in the number of vacation houses and private rentals.