New legislation in Finland would allow municipalities to collect a tourist tax to generate income from tourism. In practice, the municipalities would be allowed autonomy to decide whether to implement the tax or not.

“A tourist tax would give municipalities that are popular tourist destinations a way to collect more income from tourism. The goal is to create a simple and clear tax model. Municipalities themselves would decide whether to adopt the tax,” Riikka Purra (Finns), the minister of finance, noted in a statement.

Finance Minister Riikka Purra (Finns). Photograph: TONY ÖHBERG/FINLAND TODAY

The Ministry of Finance is currently drafting the law, which will outline the conditions for its adoption.

The tax is designed to cover the costs associated with municipal tourism and will apply uniformly to all temporary accommodations for both domestic and international visitors, based on a “moderate percentage” of accommodation prices.

Finland Today is awaiting clarification on the term “moderate” and will explore this topic in a future article.

The legislation is scheduled for public consultation, with a potential implementation date in 2027 for inclusion in the 2028 budget.