Airbnb paid nearly €100 million in tourist tax in Italy

Over one billion euros in tourist tax collection in Italy in 2024. This record confirms the growing importance of this resource for municipal budgets , which can be used as a driver for investment in services and infrastructure for the benefit of residents and tourists. It also derives, in part, from short-term rentals . Indeed, the contribution collected and paid by Airbnb on behalf of Italian hosts is nearly 100 million euros , a figure that would represent 10% of the national total. This flow of funds, as highlighted by the annual declaration to the Revenue Agency , is intended to finance a wide range of initiatives, from parks to recreational facilities, including cultural projects.

From cities to villages: how the revenue is distributed

The platform, which in recent years has been at the center of controversy over overtourism , is trying to gain a foothold by distributing tourist flows to lesser-known destinations. And it's showing numbers to support this effort: in 2024, half of the nights booked by Italians on Airbnb were in rural areas, bringing new economic opportunities and valuable tax revenue to small villages and lesser-known locations. This achievement, explains Matteo Sarzana , Airbnb's country manager for Italy, "confirms the platform's ongoing commitment to compliance and to supporting Italian municipalities, ensuring crucial revenue during a period when local government budgets are under pressure."

The tourist tax collection system ensures that the benefits of tourism reach communities of all sizes, offering new economic opportunities to small towns and supporting local projects ranging from infrastructure and parks to cultural activities and essential services. "We believe the opportunities to support local communities would be even greater if the current tourist tax collection system were further simplified," Sarzana continues. "This is why we are ready to collaborate with a growing number of administrations, so that every community can benefit from the positive effects of sustainable tourism."