(Capo d’Orlando, Italy) — A tourist tax in Capo d’Orlando, Sicily, is generating revenue, but significantly less than potential visitor numbers suggest it could be, due to unregistered accommodations.
A substantial number of unregistered accommodations in Capo d’Orlando are limiting the revenue generated from the city’s tourist tax, despite a surge in visitors.
- Capo d’Orlando collected 256,000 euros from its tourist tax in 2025.
- Tourism experts estimate the city could have received significantly more revenue if all accommodations were registered.
- The Sicilian region reported 100,000 official tourist attendances, but the actual number is likely much higher.
- Experts estimate Capo d’Orlando could reach at least 400,000 visitors by 2025.
The tourist tax on overnight stays in Capo d’Orlando is beginning to yield results, but the revenue falls far short of what the city could be collecting given the actual number of tourists, according to estimates. The discrepancy stems from a large number of unregistered extra-hotel facilities, making it difficult to accurately assess visitor numbers.
The Sicilian region has officially recorded 100,000 tourist attendances. However, tourism experts believe the true figure is considerably higher when factoring in those staying in unregistered accommodations. This surge in tourism was described as a “boom” last year, a trend also supported by a significant increase in waste collection during the summer months.
According to those experts, Capo d’Orlando is projected to welcome at least 400,000 visitors by 2025, and potentially even more. Carlos Vinci, a technician with “Mare d’Amare,” is among those who believe the number could be substantially higher.
The 256,000 euros collected through the tourist tax in 2025 is therefore considered negligible compared to the potential revenue that could be generated if all accommodations were properly registered with regional or national authorities and possessed the necessary identification codes.
Why It Matters
The situation in Capo d’Orlando highlights a broader challenge for tourist destinations: maximizing revenue from tourism while ensuring fair competition and accurate data collection. The presence of unregistered accommodations not only deprives local authorities of potential income but also creates an uneven playing field for legitimate businesses. This can impact the quality of services offered to tourists and hinder long-term sustainable tourism development. The reliance on estimates, rather than concrete data, also makes it difficult to effectively plan for future tourism growth and infrastructure needs.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting from the original source and added independent analysis and context.
