Latest news with #CecilieMyrseth
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Cruise passengers to face tourist tax in major holiday destination
Travellers, including cruise passengers are set to face a new tourist tax in a major European holiday destination. Norway has announced that local governments will be able to charge a three per cent levy on overnight stays and cruise ship visitors. The tax is due to launch in the summer of 2026 and has been designed in response to over tourism in the Nordic country. Norway saw a record-breaking 38.6 million people book accommodation there in 2024, a 4.2 per cent rise in visitors since the previous year. The destination is expected to grow in popularity as tourists seek cooler summer holidays away from heatwaves in southern Europe. As the upcoming tourist fee is a voluntary tax, local areas can choose whether they want to introduce a charge or not. The local authorities that do introduce the tax can use the money to invest in services such as hiking trails and parking facilities. Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's trade and industry minister, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: 'It is not the case that we have year-round tourism throughout the country, but in some places, there are parts of the year that are particularly demanding, and the expenses that the residents have to pay for are particularly high.' Cruise passengers who visit for the day weren't originally included in the tax plans but have been added after criticism over the impact of cruise ships on the environment. Norway welcomed almost six million cruise ship passengers in 2024, with many travelling to explore the country's fjords. Alesund, Bergen and Stavanger are the three-most visited cruise ports in Norway with Alesund hosting more than 650,000 passengers in 2024. And Norway isn't the only European country to have introduced a tax on cruise passengers. Amsterdam charges cruise passengers a 'day tripper tax' while in Barcelona cruise holidaymakers are charged for overnight stays. Lisbon, Venice and Majorca also have tourist taxes on cruise passengers. Taxes are usually collected by the port authorities or may be included in the price of a cruise. In other cruise news, people have been left shocked after a cruise worker revealed how much he earned working onboard. Brit Chris Wong has worked at sea for the company since 2013, regularly posting content online about his life on the ocean waves. This week he announced his current contract will be his last, as he sails into new waters in 'the next phase of my life'. In a video Chris shows his followers two two-week pay slips. The first sum is $2,890.21 (£2,145.52), while the second, based solely on additional earnings such as tips and commission, is $1,450.09 (£1076.50). The grand total for his work in January this year comes to $4,340.30 (£3,222.93). He explains that he's on 'fantastic money', saying: 'For me to earn something like that in the UK, it's actually quite difficult at this point in time, with the way inflation is and everything'
Fox News
09-06-2025
- Fox News
Norway joins the tourist tax club as destinations in Europe fight back against visitors
As European cities grapple with overtourism, many have implemented tax hikes on tourists in an effort to curb the throngs of visitors. Norway is the latest European country to introduce a tourist tax, allowing certain cities to introduce a 3% tax on overnight stays in "areas particularly affected by tourism," Euronews reported. Officials passed the levy this past Thursday and will be allowed to adjust the tax percentage based on season. Similar to what's occurred in other vacation destinations, the funds will help tourist infrastructure such as public bathroom facilities and parking areas. Top summer attractions for tourists are places for hiking, places to experience nature such as fjords and mountains, water activities, and beach visits, according to Visit Norway's official site. Many tourists are drawn to Norway to witness the Northern Lights. Cecilie Myrseth, the minister of trade and industry in Norway, noted the "historic agreement" in a Facebook post. "The scheme is voluntary and it applies to areas that have a particularly large [presence] of tourists. The tourism industry is also the future of Norway," Myrseth wrote. It's "an industry that creates housing, happiness, good experiences, value creation and important jobs all over the country," she added. "If the industry wants to grow, we depend on trust locally. We ensure that with this agreement." Other international vacation destinations have implemented taxes in an effort to curb tourism, Fox News Digital has previously reported. The Canary Islands, a group of Spanish islands off the coast of Africa, are seeking to implement a tax that would fund infrastructure projects to handle the numerous tourists that visit. Greek officials, for example, are planning to impose a $22 tax on visitors cruising to Santorini or Mykonos. Venice, Italy introduced a pilot program in 2024 to charge day-trippers a $5.17 (5 euros) entry fee and are now looking to double the tax. And the Maldives in South Asia, known for its clear waters and luxury resorts, has raised a flight tax aimed at tourists leaving the islands.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Norway to introduce tourist tax amid record visitor numbers and overtourism concerns
Norway is set to become the latest European destination to introduce a tourist tax to combat concerns about rising visitor numbers. Lawmakers approved the new levy on Thursday, which allows municipalities to introduce a 3 per cent tax on overnight stays in 'areas particularly affected by tourism'. The law allows local authorities to apply the tax at their own discretion, and it will be added to accommodation charges. Authorities will also be allowed to adjust the percentage based on the season. The funds raised by the tax will be used exclusively to improve tourism infrastructure projects that benefit both visitors and local people. Municipalities will have to demonstrate that their facilities are inadequate and have their plans approved by the government to spend the funds. Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's minister of trade and industry, said on social media that her government had reached a 'historic agreement' to introduce a tourism tax that was 'in line with what they have in the rest of Europe'. Related Ibiza caps tourist cars this summer: Here's what you need to know before you travel Planning a holiday in Europe this year? All of 2025's tourist taxes, bans and restrictions explained The country is the latest in a string of European nations introducing or increasing visitor levies to tackle the growing problem of overtourism. A tax may also be applied to cruise ships that make stops in the country, particularly in areas that are most affected by overtourism. As tourists increasingly choose cooler, northern European destinations to get away from the heat, Norway has experienced a boom in visitor numbers. Last year, a record-breaking 38.6 million people booked accommodation in the country. That includes more than 12 million overnight stays by foreign tourists - a 4.2 per cent increase from 2023. Some previously quiet destinations have been overwhelmed, like the Lofoten islands, where eye-catching images of hiking trails posted on social media have led to an influx of visitors. With a population of 24,500 people distributed across several small towns and villages, keeping up with the cost of all these new visitors has been hard. A recent survey by industry organisation Norwegian Tourism Partners found that 77 per cent of people in Tromsø, in northern Norway above the Arctic Circle, thought there were too many tourists there. Visitors have been drawn by the Northern Lights, wildlife excursions, Sami cultural experiences and what the city itself has to offer. Related Svalbard, Chios, El Hierro: How these European islands have successfully avoided overtourism Spain orders removal of more than 65,000 Airbnb tourist rentals it says violate regulations The increase in tourism has caused tension with local residents across Norway as infrastructure has struggled to keep up with the boom. Facilities like public toilets and car parks have been overwhelmed in popular destinations. Some residents have even reported cases of people using their back gardens as toilets, and bemoaned the increased traffic clogging up Norway's roads.
Euronews
06-06-2025
- Euronews
Norway introduces tourist tax to tackle overtourism surge
Norway is set to become the latest European destination to introduce a tourist tax to combat concerns about rising visitor numbers. Lawmakers approved the new levy on Thursday, which allows municipalities to introduce a 3 per cent tax on overnight stays in 'areas particularly affected by tourism'. The law allows local authorities to apply the tax at their own discretion, and it will be added to accommodation charges. Authorities will also be allowed to adjust the percentage based on the season. The funds raised by the tax will be used exclusively to improve tourism infrastructure projects that benefit both visitors and local people. Municipalities will have to demonstrate that their facilities are inadequate and have their plans approved by the government to spend the funds. Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's minister of trade and industry, said on social media that her government had reached a 'historic agreement' to introduce a tourism tax that was 'in line with what they have in the rest of Europe'. The country is the latest in a string of European nations introducing or increasing visitor levies to tackle the growing problem of overtourism. A tax may also be applied to cruise ships that make stops in the country, particularly in areas that are most affected by overtourism. As tourists increasingly choose cooler, northern European destinations to get away from the heat, Norway has experienced a boom in visitor numbers. Last year, a record-breaking 38.6 million people booked accommodation in the country. That includes more than 12 million overnight stays by foreign tourists - a 4.2 per cent increase from 2023. Some previously quiet destinations have been overwhelmed, like the Lofoten islands, where eye-catching images of hiking trails posted on social media have led to an influx of visitors. With a population of 24,500 people distributed across several small towns and villages, keeping up with the cost of all these new visitors has been hard. A recent survey by industry organisation Norwegian Tourism Partners found that 77 per cent of people in Tromsø, in northern Norway above the Arctic Circle, thought there were too many tourists there. Visitors have been drawn by the Northern Lights, wildlife excursions, Sami cultural experiences and what the city itself has to offer. The increase in tourism has caused tension with local residents across Norway as infrastructure has struggled to keep up with the boom. Facilities like public toilets and car parks have been overwhelmed in popular destinations. Some residents have even reported cases of people using their back gardens as toilets, and bemoaned the increased traffic clogging up Norway's roads. As millions of holidaymakers prepare to head to the Canary Islands this summer, authorities have issued a wildfire pre-alert across the archipelago. The warning, announced by the General Directorate of Emergencies on Sunday, applies to tourist hotspots El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It comes as the islands enter a high-risk fire period following the wet season, as hot, dry winds known as the 'calima' begin blowing in from the Sahara Desert. The risk of wildfire is nothing new for the Canary Islands. The volcanic terrain, Mediterranean climate and fire-adapted vegetation - plants that have evolved to thrive in fire-prone environments - make them susceptible to summer blazes, and scientists say wildfires are part of the archipelago's ecological rhythm. Some of the worst occurred in 2023, when forest fires ravaged Tenerife, destroying more than 15,000 hectares of land and forcing 12,000 people to evacuate. The blaze was later found to have been started by arsonists. This year, officials are urging tourists and locals alike to take extreme caution, warning against launching fireworks near forests and discarding cigarettes on dry ground. But even as the fire warnings roll in, the Canaries' appeal shows no signs of slowing down. In 2024, the islands welcomed nearly 18 million tourists, including a record-breaking 15.5 million international arrivals. Among them, British travellers led the way, recording 6.3 million visits – up 500,000 from 2023. While the Canary Islands continue to attract record numbers of tourists, residents are increasingly voicing concerns about overtourism. In April 2024, tens of thousands of islanders participated in protests, holding signs that read 'the Canary Islands have a limit' while rallying against rising housing costs, environmental damage and the strain on public services. Over Easter this year, about 80,000 hospitality workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro walked out in a dispute with unions over pay. The surge in short-term rentals has been especially contentious. Locals have reported getting priced out of their neighbourhoods as properties are converted into holiday lets, the cost of living soars and wages stagnate. Despite these concerns, tourism remains a significant part of the Canary Islands' economy, accounting for approximately 35 per cent of its GDP. After welcoming seven million tourists in 2024, Tenerife remains the most visited island. Its year-round sunshine and wide beaches keep it a firm favourite among families, especially during the UK's summer school break and throughout the winter months. As the peak summer season picks up, local tourism boards have made no indication that the fire pre-alerts will disrupt travel plans. But authorities remain focused on prevention this year. More than 2,000 firefighters are on standby. Meanwhile, the government has distributed detailed safety advice, urging people to prepare a go-bag, stay informed and follow emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions if fires erupt.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Tourist tax to be introduced in Norway after surge in visitors
Norway is set to become the latest destination to introduce a tourist tax after a wave of travellers swap sun for cooler temperatures, leaving areas of country overwhelmed with new visitors. The country initially introduced a proposal for a tourist tax set at five per cent of the cost of an overnight stay, but a majority in parliament agreed to set the tax at three per cent. The law will allow local authorities to introduce the visitor fee at their discretion, with the funds used to pay for infrastructure projects that will benefit both tourists and residents. The tax will be added to accommodation charges, with authorities also allowed to adjust the fee depending on the season. Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's minister of trade and industry, told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK: 'It is not the case that we have year-round tourism throughout the country, but in some places, there are parts of the year that are particularly demanding, and the expenses that the residents have to pay for are particularly high.' Ms Mryseth said on social media on Tuesday that her party, Arbeiderpartiet, reached a 'historical agreement' with other parties to introduce visitor subsidies in Norway 'in line with what they have in the rest of Europe'. 'The scheme is voluntary [for local authorities], and it applies to areas that have a particularly large pressure of tourists.' 'The tourism industry is also the future of Norway,' she said. 'An industry that creates housing, happiness, good experiences, value creation and important jobs all over the country. 'If the industry wants to grow, we depend on trust locally. We ensure that with this agreement.' In recent years, the country has become an increasingly popular travel destination. In 2024, Norway saw a record-breaking 38 million visitors book accommodation. Some destinations have struggled with the newfound popularity, especially when it comes to the public facilities are available. Visitors to the famous Torghatten mountain trail often find themselves squatting in bushes to relieve themselves, while residents in more built-up areas like Tromsø have even found travellers using their back gardens as toilets. Ms Myrseth says she hopes the new tax will be able to be used by areas under pressure from this new wave of visitors, by ensuring 'trust between the local population and tourism'. The initial proposal was criticised for not including cruise passengers, as many say the worst-affected areas, such as the Lofoten archipelago, can get overwhelmed when thousands of tourists pour off the ships, as the infrastructure there is designed to only handle a smaller local population. However, the tax now appears to include charges to cruise ships, according to AFP, although it is unclear what form this will take. Not everyone in Norway has been onboard with the new visitor subsidy, with the travel and tourism branch of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise warning it could put tourists off visiting and calling the tax 'madness,' Euronews reports. The proposal has also been criticised for focusing solely on overnight stays, leaving campervans and daytrippers exempt from the charge. Einar Arve Nordang, the mayor of Stranda, a mountainous area that attracts skiers and hikers, as well as visitors to its quaint towns, said earlier this year that the proposal did not work for every area of Norway. 'It seems to me that the government's proposal is primarily designed for Tromsø and other places where you are forced to stay overnight if you visit them,' she told NRK. While not opposed to the tourist tax, villages such as Gerianger in Stranda have been advocating for years for day visit fees. Now that the Norwegian parliament has settled on an agreement, the tax could be introduced as early as summer in 2026.
