Since the beginning of May of this year, in areas such as the Stavropol and Altai Territory, they began to take a resort fee from vacationers. And from mid-July it will be introduced in the Krasnodar Territory. In a year, the Republic of Crimea will join the experiment. Today we will tell you how much the place is now under the sun, in addition, we will talk about all the nuances of the pilot project.
Tourist tax - what is it?
In the third, final reading, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a law according to which a resort fee now operates in a number of regions of Russia. Let's see what that means. This document provides for the introduction of a tourist tax.
So far this is an experiment that will last 4.5 years: Crimea, Kuban, Altai and Stavropol Territory will collect funds from vacationers by the end of 2022. The document states that this highly non-standard experiment is carried out for the following purposes:
... the preservation, restoration and development of resorts, the formation of a single tourist space, the creation of favorable conditions for the sustainable development of the tourism sector.
In general, the idea that it is possible to introduce a fee that will be paid by tourists staying in hotels and resorts belongs to the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs. For the first time, it voiced this idea in November 2015, and in September 2016, they were supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Then he instructed departments to carefully draft the bill. It should be noted that this bill was severely criticized in the early summer of 2017. The budget committees of the Council of the Federation and the State Duma insisted on reducing the size of the fee, its cancellation for business travelers. A number of difficulties arose with the administration of resort fees in the private sector.
By the way, a similar tax already existed in Russia: from 1991 to 2004. Then his maximum rate was 5% of the minimum monthly wage of a Russian.
Fee amount
It is important to note that the size of the resort tax in Russia and the territories on which these funds will be charged, according to the decision of the State Duma, will be established by regional authorities. They will also have to determine the order and terms of payment, transfer to the budget. However, there are a number of restrictions: for example, in 2018, the amount of the fee should not exceed fifty rubles per person per day, in subsequent years it should not exceed 100 rubles. Less is possible, but more - in no case. It is worth mentioning that the size of this fee may vary, this will be affected by the season and time of stay of the tourist in the resort area.
What will the funds go for?
It is planned that after the resort fee is introduced in Russia, the regions will be able to replenish their budget with very substantial amounts. For example, the budget of Altai will add about 50 million rubles, the Krasnodar Territory - 265 million, the budget of the Stavropol Territory will increase by 180 million rubles. It should be noted that these funds can only be used to finance construction work and the improvement of resort infrastructure. That is, vacationers are waiting for beautifully equipped beaches and promenades, tidied parks and pedestrian zones.
The authorities of Belokurikha plan to send the collected funds to maintain the inbound route and strengthen the coast. In Pyatigorsk, work will begin in a very popular park called "Flower Garden": the city administration speaks of the need to return this place to its historical appearance.
In the Kuban resort fee will be directed to repair utility networks.Here you can not do without the improvement of embankments and squares.
Who will pay?
The introduction of the resort fee will affect adult citizens who will stay in accommodation facilities for a period exceeding one day. By the way, according to the text of the adopted law, accommodation will be recognized not only hotels, but also all residential premises that are suitable for living in them.
Immediately, preferential categories were determined that would not have to pay a tourist tax, there were a total of 19. Among them were the heroes of Russia and the Soviet Union, veterans and invalids of wars. Blockers and persons injured in the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant were exempted from payment of the fee. Athletes who came to the competition, poor families will not pay for their stay in the resort areas.
Krasnodar region
The resort fee in the Krasnodar Territory will be officially introduced only from July 16. The thing is that the regional authorities decided to postpone it a little. The reason, of course, was the holding of the World Cup. Vacationers arriving at the resorts of the Kuban after July 16, 2018 will pay a fee of 10 rubles for each day of their stay here. This innovation will affect tourists who have chosen Anapa, Gelendzhik, Goryachiy Klyuch and Sochi for their holidays. The resort fees will also be taken from the guests of the Kuban by the settlements belonging to the Tuapse district: these are Shepsi, Dzhubga Novomikhailovsky and Nebug.
For a 2-week vacation in the Kuban, a family of two adults and two children will pay 280 rubles - 140 for each adult. Minor children are exempt from tax.
Stavropol region
If you decide to relax in such resorts as Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, Kislovodsk and Zheleznovodsk, be prepared for the fact that you have to pay 50 rubles per person for each day. That is, a classic ticket to a sanatorium in the Stavropol Territory for three weeks will become more expensive by a little more than 1,000 rubles.
Altai region
The authorities of the Altai Territory decided to introduce a resort fee only on the territory of Belokurikha. Its amount will be only 30 rubles per day. Those who decide to relax in other places of Altai will not have to pay an extra ruble.
Crimean peninsula
The authorities of the Republic of Crimea postponed the introduction of a tourist tax on the territory of the peninsula. The law of this, in general, does not prohibit. According to the document, the leadership of the region independently decides when to introduce the resort fee, whether to change it with the change of season.
How are they?
Note that tourist tax is far from a Russian invention. This is a common practice for traveling abroad. So, vacationers in Italy, Spain, Greece and the Emirates pay the fee. Its average size ranges from two to seven euros per day. True, it is installed only for foreigners, but in Russia a new tax will not be levied only from local residents.