One of the most iconic EU cities is under pressure to increase its tourist tax following outrage from locals – who argue their home is being turned into a theme park
Fed-up locals in one of Europe’s most famous cities are calling for tough measures following a surge in tourism. Last year, a staggering 48.7 million visitors flocked to Paris – lured in by iconic sights like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and of course those mouthwatering pastries.
Around 11 million of these selfie-stick-waving tourists headed over to Montmartre, a historic district home to the ethereal Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Instantly recognisable by its narrow cobbled streets and vibrant nightlife – Montmatre was catapulted to fame thanks to its famous cabaret venue, The Moulin Rouge, and was once a haven for artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, and Renoir.
However, with narrow streets so crowded with large tour groups, residents say their home has turned into Disneyland, and are calling for drastic change. It comes after Spanish islands fear Brits won’t return as tourists are dealt another blow.
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Anne Renaudie has lived in the area for almost three decades, and manages the Vivre à Montmartre association. Speaking to Reuters, she argued the historic quarter has turned into a theme park after being cast into the tourist spotlight thanks to the 2011 hit film Amelie.
“People come for three hours, have fun, buy a beret or a crepe, and leave – as if they were in an amusement park,” she said. As a result, many of the essential food shops catering to locals have been replaced with tourist-targeted snack stands and souvenir shops.
“We’re down to two or three butchers [and] two cheese shops. They’re disappearing one after the other,” Anne added. “Now, it’s a lot of ice cream, crepes, and taco places.”
Along with other members of the association, Anne is urging the town hall to impose similar clampdowns to other European hotspots including Barcelona and Venice. This includes limiting tour groups to just 25 people, banning loudspeakers and increasing the tourist tax.
Sky-high tourist taxes have become common practice across the continent in recent years, with swathes of destinations struggling to keep up with soaring demand. Take Italy’s Venice, for example, which has extended its day-tripper tourist tax to 2025 and doubled the price for certain visitors.
Those wanting to roam the endless network of canals on a gondola, or eat their body weight in pizza, will now have to pay €5 for the Venice Access Fee if they’re visiting for the day from April 18 to July 27. For last-minute visitors, this doubles to €10.
Cruise passengers heading to insufferably busy Greek islands such as Santorini and Mykonos will also be charged €20 for disembarking at the harbour, while tourists in Portugal are subject to a €1-€4 charge per night depending on the accommodation and area they’re staying in. For some, the unexpected costs come prior to flying – like one woman who was charged £75 for her luggage.
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