Russia Imposes New Tourist Tax

A new tourist tax has been introduced across Russia, effective January 1, 2025, replacing the previous resort fee. Tourists who utilize hotels and various forms of accommodation will be obligated to pay an additional charge amounting to 1 percent of their total lodging costs.

The primary aim of this tax is to improve the tourism infrastructure at the regional level.

This tax was established through modifications to the Russian Tax Code in July 2024, which created a new section titled “Tourist Tax.” This section grants regional authorities the authority to impose the tax as a local fee.

Many regions, particularly those with established or emerging tourism industries, have already embraced this initiative.

Under the current guidelines, the tourist tax will begin at a rate of 1 percent in 2025, with a scheduled increase to 3 percent by 2027.