Milan to hike tourist tax in 2025
Milan authorities have announced they will hike the local ‘tourist tax’ – a charge imposed on visitors staying in accommodation overnight to help offset the costs of public services – from January 1st of next year in response to an expected surge in tourist numbers, Ansa reported.
The report said that the hike will apply to four- and five-star hotels, with the tax set to rise from five to seven euros per guest per night.
“The tourism tax is increasing because the city is becoming increasingly attractive, with more tourists and longer stays,” councillor Emmanuel Conte told Ansa.
According to the latest estimates, Milan will see an influx of nine million visitors in 2025.
Besides the northern city, other Italian destinations may increase their tourist tax rates next year.
Under a law proposal presented by the Italian government in August, the maximum tourism tax rates applicable by city authorities could double or even triple in 2025, with charges of up to 25 euros per person per night for stays in luxury accommodation establishments.
The tax, which can currently only be applied by local authorities in major art cities and popular tourist hotspots around the country, could also be extended to all of Italy’s 7,904 municipalities (comuni).
Unions confirm general strike after talks with government fall through
Italian unions CGIL and UIL on Tuesday confirmed they will stage an eight-hour general strike on Friday, November 29th, after the government showed “no willingness to address our demands,” CGIL leader Maurizio Landini said.
The walkout was called in late October in protest against the Italian government's 2025 budget plans, which, unions said, include cuts to spending on social security, public services and public transport investments.
The general strike was confirmed at the end of a seven-hour-long summit between union leaders and government representatives, including finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti.
Giorgetti said unions’ decision to go ahead with the protest was “incredible”.
"This shows how senseless this thing is,” he added, accusing unions of not being able to “accept that we are lowering taxes” as opposed to raising them.
One in four school canteens in Italy breach health and safety laws
One in four school canteens inspected by Italian police didn’t comply with current health and safety laws, Ansa reported on Tuesday.
The inspection campaign, which was carried out at around 700 kindergartens, schools and universities around the country, uncovered major hygienic breaches in some cases, including the presence of insects and rodent droppings at sites where food was being prepared or served.
Other violations reported by police authorities included the absence of required food service permits, failure to state the presence of allergens and use of food whose origin could not be traced.
Inspections began at the start of the current school year as part of a health ministry campaign aimed at verifying educational institutions’ compliance with catering sector requirements.
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