Rome adding hotel tax

Rome is adding a hotel tax to ensure that tourists pay for restoration works instead of locals. It looks like hostels guests will get out of paying though.

Travelers heading to Rome to see sights like the Roman Colosseum are going to have to pay more next year. The city is imposing a hotel tax beginning Jan. 1.

Guests staying at 4- and 5-star hotels will pay a tax of about $4 per person, per night, while those in other accommodations will pay about $2.65.

The tax cuts off after 10 nights, for those planning long-term stays, and children under age two and youth hostels are exempt from the tax.

Officials in Rome say the tax will provide much-needed revenue for restoration of palaces, churches and monuments, among other things.

"In order for the city of Rome not to tax Romans, we have decided to tax the tourists," says local councilor Frederico Guidi.

Earlier this year, the Italian government similarly drew up plans to tax tourists to pay for improvements in Venice. In that case, visitors would pay an entrance fee of about $1.39 when they arrive in the city by plane, train or cruise ship.

Perhaps the hostels in Rome could advertise this as an advantage over the local hotels.