Islamabad, Nov 21: Norwegian authorities have introduced a plan to allow cities to implement “visitor contributions,” or tourist taxes, to manage the increasing number of visitors.
According to Schengen.News, the proposal aims to fund public infrastructure and services that face higher demand due to tourism. The measure is currently under consultation, with no final decision yet.
Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s Minister for Business, highlighted the long-standing calls from tourist-heavy municipalities for such a tax.
She believes this initiative will benefit both locals and visitors by alleviating the strain on public resources, especially during peak seasons.
Myrseth explained, “Even a small contribution per visitor can have a significant collective impact, enhancing the capacity of municipalities to accommodate tourists while reducing friction between residents and visitors.”
Voluntary Adoption with Comprehensive Application
If approved, municipalities can choose whether to adopt the tax. Funds collected would exclusively support public goods like restrooms, walking trails, and information centers. The tax would apply uniformly to all accommodations, including hotels and short-term rentals like Airbnb, to ensure fairness across the sector.
Myrseth emphasized the importance of this broad scope, stating, “A visitor contribution should cover all accommodation types to maintain sector-wide equity.”
The tax, once enacted, will be levied on accommodation providers or payment platforms. Although visitors won’t pay the tax directly, it’s likely to be added to accommodation costs, following standard practices for such charges.
