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Rostourism head considers tourist tax of up to 100 rubles to be appropriate

This will be an additional funding source to facilitate solving the infrastructure tasks that face our resorts

© TASS/Dmitry Rogulin

MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. Introducing a flat tourist tax of up to 100 rubles (roughly $1.5) would be appropriate, head of Russia’s federal tourism agency (Rostourism) Oleg Safonov told Izvestiya daily in an interview published on Wednesday.

“This will be an additional funding source to facilitate solving the infrastructure tasks that face our resorts. The main thing is, the tax should not be too high. Amounts varying from 50 to 300 rubles have been under discussion. I think 100 rubles would be appropriate, moreover, this should be a single payment,” Izvestia quoted Safonov as saying.

He pointed out that the tax collection as well as expenditures should be transparent. “Tourists should see what their money is used for. In this case they will understand and welcome the innovation. <...> Besides, we should mention that we are talking only about resorts. People going on a business trip or visiting family and friends in another region will not have to pay,” the Rostourism head noted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier instructed the government to introduce a tourist tax until March 1, 2017. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is responsible for implementing this task.

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