Tourist Tax Shift Proposed to Guests in Russia
Russian tourism industry associations proposed shifting the tourist tax from hotels to guests, making accommodations tax agents, and introducing a fixed daily rate with an investment deduction for renovations.
Consensus
- The Russian Union of Tourism Industry (RST), Russian Hotel Association (RHA), and Federation of Restaurant and Hoteliers (FRI) jointly proposed changes to the tourist tax mechanism.
- The proposed reform aims to make tourists, rather than hotels, the direct payers of the tourist tax.
- Accommodations would act as tax agents responsible for collecting and remitting the tax to the budget.
- A fixed daily rate per person is proposed instead of a percentage-based rate tied to room prices.
- An investment deduction for hotels undergoing capital repairs and reconstruction is suggested.
- The proposals were submitted to Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov.
- Major hotel chains, operators, and management companies have supported the initiative.
Points of divergence
- The industry also emphasized that for paid bookings, transitional rules are needed to avoid additional payments at check-in, which could negatively affect guest experience. — riamo
- Expert Nikolai Melnik noted that a 100–500 ruble top-up may not be significant for individuals but is important for families and long-term stays, and that the deduction is especially needed for small facilities. — riamo
- Melnik stated that tourists should see tangible results of their tax payment in the form of improved rooms, service, and infrastructure. — riamo
Coverage (2 sources)
- Industry suggests shifting tourist tax to guests — РИАМО
- RST proposed reform of tourist tax — Коммерсантъ
Key entities
- RST
- Russia
- Maxim Reshetnikov
- Russian Union of Tourism Industry
- Restauranters and Hoteliers Federation
- Russian Hotel Association
- ABN24
- RGAI
- Restauranters and Hoteliers Federation (FRIO)