Starting April 1, St. Petersburg will begin collecting resort fees from adult travelers staying in hotels, aparthotels, sanatoriums, and other accommodations. The announcement came from Sergei Korneev, the head of the city’s tourism development committee. The new policy marks a shift in how visitor costs are handled and is part of a broader effort to fund local tourism infrastructure and services.
The law setting these fees was approved in the summer of 2023 and took effect on October 1 of that year. A temporary zero rate was maintained to help the hospitality industry adjust, but the policy now imposes a fee of 100 rubles per person per day. For many travelers, this will be an additional line item in travel budgets when visiting Saint Petersburg.
Several groups are exempt from paying the fee. Exemptions apply to veterans, individuals with disabilities in groups I and II, and a broad set of residents and categories that include students from St. Petersburg universities and extended family members of residents. These exemptions are designed to relieve targeted populations from the added cost while the city continues to refine how the fee is administered and collected.
In other regional developments, the government of Yakutia stated that a facility fee would not be imposed for the time being, signaling a cautious approach to new charges in some areas. Simultaneously, officials are evaluating the potential of a holiday tax for tourists in the Magadan region, indicating ongoing consideration of tourist-related fees across multiple locales.
Earlier reports noted a separate proposal in Krasnodar Territory to consider a holiday tax for travelers visiting Sochi by car. This would be a distinct levy from resort fees and would apply to a different travel scenario, emphasizing how regional governments are exploring multiple revenue options tied to tourism activity.
There have also been discussions in Russia about exemptions for large families from resort fees, reflecting concerns about the financial burden on households with several dependents who travel frequently. These broader conversations illustrate the balancing act between funding local tourism assets and maintaining affordable travel for residents and visitors alike.
As the landscape of regional tourism charges evolves, travelers planning visits should check the latest policy details for each destination. Fees, exemptions, and collection methods can vary by city and province, and travelers may encounter different rules across the country. For a smooth experience, it helps to confirm whether a resort fee applies to a given property, understand the daily rate, and review any eligible exemptions before booking. In many cases, the total cost of a stay will include the base room rate plus the resort fee, with the latter intended to support local amenities, cleanliness, security, and guest services that enhance the visitor experience.
Regions considering or implementing such charges often cite improvements in tourism infrastructure and service quality as primary goals. In practice, travelers should plan accordingly, budgeting for possible additional daily costs and staying informed about any changes to exemption criteria or rate adjustments. Across Russia, the approach to resort and holiday fees reflects a wider trend of municipalities seeking to fund growing demand for tourism while balancing affordability and accessibility for residents and out-of-town guests. By keeping an eye on official announcements, travelers can avoid surprises and make informed decisions about where to stay and how to plan their itineraries.