Russia imposes new tourist tax

In Russia, a new tourist tax has come into effect across the country from today, replacing the previous resort fee.

According to the RIA Novosti news agency, travelers staying in hotels and other accommodations will contribute an additional 1 percent of their lodging costs.

This is intended to bolster regional tourism infrastructure.

The tax was introduced as part of amendments to the Russian Tax Code in July



2024. This has added a new chapter titled “Tourist Tax,” granting regional authorities discretion to implement the tax as a local levy.

Many regions, particularly those with established or emerging tourism industries, have already embraced the initiative.

Under the current framework, the tourist tax will begin at a rate of 1 percent in 2025 and gradually rise to 3 percent by 2027.