Tourist tax is common all over the world. In the summer, a tourist tax will be introduced in Lofoten. Next man out could be Tromsø. The money that comes in through the tourist tax will be used, among other things, to set up toilets and rubbish bins. And to build new paths and viewpoints where tourists travel. The politicians in Tromsø also want the hotels and accommodation to collect the tax by adding it to the hotel bill. Director of The Edge hotel, Ida Kristine Jakobsen, does not want that. – We who run hotels already pay municipal fees for our guests to use, among other things, public goods such as exits, car parks and other exit routes. Public goods that the tourist tax is intended to finance. We think it is then unreasonable that the hotel industry should collect the tax, and that it is a single industry that will be affected, she says. Jakobsen appeared for a debate on Helgemorgen on Sunday. – Is worried Jakobsen says that this will mean that guests will have to pay more for accommodation. – Tromsø as a destination is already more expensive than other destinations. So it is clear that this is a distortion of competition for us, she says. The hotel director points out that their main guests are Norwegian course and conference guests. She fears that a tourist tax will also affect them. – I am worried, says the hotel director. Jarle Heitmann (Ap) is group leader for Tromsø’s largest party. – This is about how the scheme is to be administered. We believe that short-term accommodation is suitable for that. We want to get more tourists to Norway, and then we have to make arrangements for that, he says. Jarle Heitmann, Aps group leader in the municipal council and chairmanship in Tromsø. Photo: Eilin Kaspersen / news Have been to Barcelona and Paris The hotel director and the Ap politician met for a debate on the tourist tax on Sunday morning. Heitmann says that the background for a tourist tax is that they have seen how it is imposed on tourists in Barcelona and Paris, among others. – The hotel industry should not be taxed. They will administer an arrangement that is common in Europe. It is when the guests check out that they will receive the tourist tax surcharge, he says. Jakobsen does not feel reassured. – We have different tax systems, so it would be wrong to compare a tourist tax in Norway with other countries in Europe’s tourist tax, she says. Daily fee of NOK 10 to 20. Heitmann says that the aim of the tourist tax is to facilitate more facilities associated with well-known destinations such as the Fjellheisen, the Arctic Cathedral and Northern Lights tourism. The aim is to go from one million tourists in 2022 to 2 million in 2030. The view from the Fjellheisen in Tromsø. Photo: Robert Greiner/news The wish is that the tourists, and not the residents, should pay for the pressure to be maintained. Heitmann believes that the sum the tourists will have to pay is low. – In Europe, we are talking about one to two euros. We are perhaps talking about NOK 10 to 20 per day per guest. I think that is a sum that is not noticed. – Isn’t it nicer to ask visitors from abroad for one to two euros than to give them poo bags? – That is what we are interested in finding out; is it only foreign or also Norwegian tourists who have to pay the fee? We believe that it makes sense that it is the transport into the country that requires this fee, says Jakobsen. See Weekend Morning:
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Hotel manager reacts to tourist tax in Tromsø – news Troms and Finnmark
