On Tuesday, Paris hoteliers were outraged by the French government's plan to triple the tax paid by visitors for hotel stays next year when the capital hosts the Olympic Games, UNN reports citing France24.
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The tourist tax in Paris varies from 0.25 euros (0.27 USD) per night for the most basic accommodation to 5 euros (5.5 USD) per night in the luxury segment.
The government should triple this amount as part of its 2024 budget, which it plans to pass through parliament without a vote before Christmas.
"This is yet another blow to the competitiveness of our sector, as well as to the image of France at a time when all eyes are on the 2024 Paris Olympics," the UMIH hotel and restaurant union and GNC hotel group said in a statement.
The government said a 200 percent increase in tourist tax would help finance public transportation.
The syndicates said that this "amounts to 423 million euros in taxes collected per year, which is much more than the 200 million euros" that the government and the regional transport authority said they needed.
Catherine Kerard, president of GHR, another union representing the hospitality and catering sector, added: "The government is afraid of raising hotel prices, but they are overcharging us. Then they will come and blame us."
Hotels have already raised their prices per night during the Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11.
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The government of President Emmanuel Macron, the newspaper writes, should use Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass the 2024 budget without a vote.
He does not have a majority after the 2022 elections and has used this controversial mechanism several times, including to pass a highly controversial pension reform earlier this year despite months of protests.
The controversy arose after regional authorities announced a sharp increase in public transportation ticket prices during the Games, which sparked anger.
The Regional Transport Administration plans to almost double the cost of subway travel for single tickets and 10-ticket passes during the Olympic Games.