New regulations: More Polish municipalities will be able to collect a tourist tax
Published
The government is planning to introduce changes to the regulations concerning the tourist tax in Poland. Currently, the ability to collect this fee from visitors is limited to towns that have the status of a health resort or are attractive to tourists due to their climatic and landscape qualities. The new regulations are intended to give local governments greater freedom in deciding on their own finances.
According to the proposal, the right to introduce a tourist tax will be granted to all municipalities that can demonstrate that tourist traffic generates additional costs for them in maintaining infrastructure. Thanks to this solution, cities and municipalities will be able to obtain funds for cleaning, sidewalk repairs, or improving safety in places frequently visited by tourists.
Experts point out that this change is a response to the demands of local government officials, who have been calling for greater flexibility in managing local budgets for years. The introduction of the fee is to be voluntary, which means that each municipal council will be able to decide for itself whether it wants to implement it and set its amount within the limits specified by the act.
However, the draft is sparking some discussion among representatives of the tourism industry. Some entrepreneurs fear that additional costs could lead to an increase in accommodation prices, which, in an era of rising inflation, could be felt by Polish families planning a vacation. On the other hand, supporters of the changes emphasize that the revenue from the fee will allow for raising the standard of services in popular regions.
Currently, the draft is at the stage of public consultation. If the regulations are adopted in the proposed form, the new law could come into force next year. This will be a significant change for the Polish tourism sector, which may alter the way attractions are financed in many regions of the country.
Sources: UA.NEWS
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