Several municipalities consider introducing a tourist tax
Municipalities housing some of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations are considering introducing tourist tax. How the tax is to be recovered is still unclear.
Six municipalities including Lofoten in Nordland, Nordkapp in Finnmark, Stranda in Møre og Romsdal, and Stryn in Sogn og Fjordane are considering introducing tourist tax wrote Klassekampen newspaper.
“We currently have expenses from tourists and must have high levels of emergency preparedness in the health service, fire and trash handling. We also need funds to establish common facilities, public toilets, and we would like to decorate a little in the municipality to look cosy and welcoming,’’ said Mayor Kristina Hansen of Arbeiderpartiet (AP) in Nordkapp municipality.
The municipality, where the famous Nordkapplatået is located, has 400,000 visitors each year.
Parliament decided last year not to introduce a national tourist tax but opened for the possibility of regional and local authorities to introduce local arrangements. How the tourist tax will be collected is still unclear.
According to Klassekampen, the municipalities are considering landing areas, such as airports or quays where ferries and cruise ships call in.
General Manager, Elisabeth Dreyer of Destination Lofoten chooses to call it a “visiting fee” and believes that such a fee will make it easier to facilitate tourism.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today