Italy mulls tourist tax for Lake Como due to overcrowding

After Venice, day-trippers may soon face a fee to visit Italy’s Lake Como. — AFP

It's an issue that’s been dragging on for several years. Repeatedly postponed, the tax applied to tourists visiting Venice, Italy just for the day – those who do not stay in a hotel in the city – has come into force (since April 25). Targeting cruise passengers in particular, the fee will be $5 (RM25.50). It’s a move that’s already inspired other Italian towns and cities, which are also suffering the consequences of overcrowding.

Such is the case of Lake Como, in Lombardy, northern Italy. This enchanting destination is a lush paradise where travel slows to a gentle stroll thanks to the sapphire-blue waters in which the peaks of the Alps are reflected. But during the peak summer season, it is literally taken over by hoards of visitors.