The Icelandic authorities is planning to cost worldwide guests a tax to help local weather change and sustainability targets.
Talking on the United Nations Local weather Ambition Summit 2023 in New York, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir mentioned the tax wouldn’t be excessive, studies schengenvisainfo.com.
Regardless of being severely affected by the pandemic, Iceland’s tourism has quickly recovered, because it welcomed greater than 8,5 million guests in 2022. In June 2023 a complete of 1 176 600 in a single day stays had been registered with the Icelandic authorities – a 17% enhance over June 2022.
“We’ve got introduced that we’re placing elevated taxes on tourism in Iceland. Not excessive taxes to start with, however we’re speaking about metropolis taxes, etcetera, for individuals who keep in Iceland.”
Jakobsdóttir added that firms within the Icelandic tourism sector had been already utilizing renewable power, emphasising the looming sustainability change within the trade and the challenges which can be showing because of this.
She additionally mentioned the brand new tax would contribute to authorities efforts to advertise sluggish tourism and journey. The federal government has been encouraging shorter journeys to keep away from overcrowding and recommending sustainable technique of transport to visiting vacationers.
Authorities in Iceland unveiled plans to cut back carbon emissions by 55% by 2030, with the purpose of reaching carbon neutrality by no later than 2040.