Tourism employers asked the relevant minister, during a debate on the draft Tourism Law, to extend a hotel tax nationwide that is currently optional for local authorities.
In response, the Minister of Tourism, Mircea Dobre, pointed out that he did not intend to establish new taxes, but will make this proposal to the governing coalition.
At the same time, Dragoș Anastasiu, a member of the National Association of Travel Agencies in Romania, emphasized that this would not be a new tax, but rather the transformation of a tax that already exists, optionally, at the local authority level, into a mandatory tax at the national level.
“With the mention that the money should be used in public-private partnerships at the local, regional, and national levels, this is the condition. If you don’t specify this, leave the money with the people, because rather than sitting in town hall accounts, it’s better off with the people,” stated Anastasiu.
Mircea Dobre specified that the ministry’s intention is to approve the draft Tourism Law in the Government by November 15, so that Parliament can vote by the end of the current session.
Source: Wall-Street
Frequently Asked Questions
What are tourism employers requesting regarding the hotel tax?
Tourism employers are asking for the current optional local hotel tax to be made mandatory at a national level to ensure consistent funding for the industry.
How will the funds from the mandatory hotel tax be used?
According to industry representatives, the condition for this tax is that the funds must be invested in public-private partnerships for tourism promotion at local, regional, and national levels.
What is the timeline for the new Tourism Law?
The Ministry of Tourism aims to have the draft law approved by the Government by November 15, with a parliamentary vote expected by the end of the current session.