Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri rejected a tourist entry fee, arguing the capital should protect residential housing and keep local shops and restaurants accessible as visitor numbers hit records.
Rome logged 22.9 million tourist arrivals in 2025, including 12 million from abroad, and 52.92 million overnight stays, city data showed. The total arrivals and overnight stays each set a record.
A September survey by real estate company Brixa counted more than 122,000 beds for overnight stays in central Rome, alongside a resident population exceeding 116,000. The survey also found that short-term rentals were spreading from the historic center into residential neighborhoods on the outskirts.
A review of Rome’s urban development rules that lasted nearly two decades culminated in assembly approval this summer, bringing stronger protections for homes in the historic center. The city still needs to adopt separate regulations for short-term rentals.
Gualtieri said in a Bloomberg interview that an entry charge would suit Venice better. The city trialed a €5 access fee this summer; Gualtieri cited its smaller scale and the many visitors who leave without staying overnight and paying lodging taxes. The Straits Times reported that Florence and Bologna have also adopted short-term rental rules.
Gualtieri said he wants tourism to contribute more to Rome and criticized visitors who “simply consume and give nothing in return.” He said the city is preparing tools to restrict property uses, but needs legal authority to regulate existing properties. Adopting short-term rental regulations remains a next step for Rome.
