Regions were offered to change the rate of tourist tax depending on the season

The rate of tourist tax, which will appear in Russia in 2025, can be changed to take account of seasonality - local authorities will be able to set the percentage of the levy on a quarterly basis. This follows from an explanatory letter of the Ministry of Finance, which is at the disposal of Izvestia.

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Local authorities will be able to determine for themselves whether to introduce the tax and in what amount. The levy should be no less than 100 rubles and no more than the maximum threshold - in 2025 it will amount to 1% of the cost of living and will be annually increased to 5% until 2029.

Giving authority to municipalities to differentiate tourist tax rates is due to its nature - it is a local levy, the Ministry of Finance said. In addition, such a measure is aimed at taking into account the climatic and socio-economic characteristics of the regions, including, for example, the volume of tourist traffic during high/low seasons, the ministry added.

It is expected that in 2025 tourist tax will be introduced by 55 regions, reported in the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST).

On vacationers in 2025, the differentiated rate and the tax itself will not affect very noticeably, because the limit will be 1% of the cost of accommodation, said leading analyst of Freedom Finance Global Natalia Milchakova. But in the future, as the threshold grows, the amount will become more sensitive for tourists - because hotels will put the payment into the cost of accommodation.

Read more in the exclusive material of Izvestia:

Collection from guests: regions will be able to change the rate of tourist tax by seasons