Orgosolo, the tourist tax debuts: the town is divided

Orgosolo introduces the tourist tax : 1 euro for each tourist who stays in a B&B or hotel in the town starting from April 1st .

The Municipality will thus cover a part of the tourist services , costs which will be relieved from the always suffering budget. But the resolution approved in the chamber on December 29th did not meet with the approval of the minority , who voted against.

«We are not aware that the operators were heard nor that the tourism commission was called to express its opinion - Dionigi Deledda, Nicola Garippa, Antonio Devaddis and Pasquale Lovicu attack in a controversial note -. The provision will weigh as an increase in bureaucracy for the managers who must carry out the collection, issue receipts, pay the payment to the municipality, keep invoices and receipts etc. Furthermore, in the budget forecast it is expected to collect 4 thousand euros per year from the tax, let's imagine what investment can be made for tourism with this amount".

The majority stands square, convinced of the validity of the provision . «The tourist tax is absolutely appropriate, especially in a tourist town that has little funds to offer the necessary services - explains deputy mayor Peppino Rubanu - In Orgosolo there are around thirty B&Bs which offer a total of around 300 beds, plus a few hotels. Previously people came for the day, but today there are many tourists who decide to stay for one or more nights and it is right that the Municipality establishes the tax and returns the services".

The funds collected will be used for the renovation of the murals, a real attraction of the Barbagia area, for an info point for signage and cultural events, but also to repair the damage caused by vandalism .

«We have many expenses to deal with, including that for the restoration of public lighting: 30 street lamps were knocked down during the holidays just passed and the expense for the restoration - warns the deputy mayor - is huge. For all these reasons, the minority's controversy seems only speculation to us."

(Unioneonline)