The Finnish government is considering the introduction of a tourist tax based on popular tourist destinations, particularly Barcelona and Venice, where such a fee already exists, reports Yle.
This proposal was announced by the Minister of Finance Riikka Purra. According to her, this innovation "will provide municipalities that are popular tourist destinations with the opportunity to generate greater income from tourism."
For municipalities, this tax will be voluntary, and the revenues from it will remain at their disposal.
Regional authorities can set the tax rate between 2 and 5 percent. According to the Ministry of Finance, the tax could potentially bring in "millions of euros in tax revenue."
The innovation could come into effect in 2027, which means that municipalities will be able to introduce the tax in 2028.
In recent years, Finland has seen a steady increase in tourism: last year, the number of overnight stays in hotels reached a record level of 7.2 million. This growth is attributed, in part, to an increase in visitors from Sweden, Germany, and the USA.
The Uusimaa region, which includes Helsinki, as well as Finnish Lapland, are generally the most popular destinations for foreign tourists.
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