The St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly gave initial approval to the proposed holiday tax on visitors, a move that would charge travelers at their place of stay. The measure is slated to begin operating on April 1, 2024, with a daily rate of 100 rubles. This update comes through Interfax as part of the early-stage proceedings. [citation: Interfax]
During the first reading, the vote count stood at 42 deputies in favor, with three abstentions and one deputy voicing opposition. The assembly framed the proposal as a revenue instrument for the city, projecting a structured rollout and a staged introduction aimed at minimizing disruption for tourism operators and guests. [citation: Interfax]
The document outlines that the initial testing phase for the levy would start on October 1, 2023. However, for the first six months the rate would be set to zero, allowing hotels and other providers to prepare for full implementation set to take effect on April 1 of the following year. This phased approach is intended to reduce immediate financial impact on visitors while signaling the longer term budgetary purpose. [citation: Interfax]
Under the policy, guests will be billed upon check-in for the actual duration of their stay, calculated from the day after arrival to the day of departure. The fee is separate from the hotel room charge and is not automatically embedded in the posted rate. If a guest declines to pay, the hotel is required to inform city authorities within two days, ensuring compliance monitoring. [citation: Interfax]
Konstantin Sukhenko, the governor’s representative in the Legislative Assembly, noted that the city currently hosts around 1,205 accommodation facilities. He emphasized that the projected budget revenue from the resort fee in the unfinished 2024 year could reach about 310 million rubles, depending on occupancy and participation. [citation: Interfax]
The revenues are intended to flow into the St. Petersburg Resort Infrastructure Development Fund, with the rule that all establishments offering temporary lodging to tourists would fall under the fee regime. Certain groups, such as children, full-time students, veterans, participants in sports events, and others, may receive exemptions from the payment. [citation: Interfax]
In a broader comparison, it was noted that after similar resort taxes were introduced in 2022 in the Krasnodar region, revenue increased substantially, by about 4.5 times, though data indicated that only a fraction of visitors ultimately paid the tax. The Krasnodar example was cited to illustrate potential outcomes and compliance challenges faced by regions with new tourism fees. [citation: Interfax]