• 2 day ago

Tajikistan introduces tourist tax

Tajikistan has created a Tourism Development Fund, which will be funded, in part, by tourist taxes. The government issued a corresponding decree on July 1, which has now entered into force.

The fund will receive 5% of the cost of tourist packages purchased by Tajik citizens for trips abroad, as well as fees collected from foreign tourists for each day of travel within the country. Additionally, funding will come from fees for permits for the provision of tourist services, fines, deposit income, grants, and targeted funds from international financial organizations.

The first two types of payments relate to the tourist tax, which was introduced back in 2019. At that time, it was reported that foreign tourists and Tajik citizens traveling abroad through travel companies would pay $1 per day. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War, Chernobyl disaster relief workers, persons with disabilities of the first and second groups, children under 16, and diplomats are exempt from the tax. The fund's funds will be used to develop tourism infrastructure, train personnel, improve service quality, promote the country's tourism opportunities, implement innovation, and conduct research. Any unused funds from a year will be carried over to the following year.

At least 30% of the proceeds will also be transferred monthly to the Tourist Services Information Center.

The fund will be managed by a 13-member board, headed by the Chairman of the Tourism Development Committee and his first deputy. The committee will report to the government semi-annually and publish information on the fund's performance annually.

At the end of July, the government approved the implementation plan for the Tourism Development Strategy for 2027–2030. Over 270 million somoni (approximately $29 million) has been allocated for industry development over the next three years.