Resort fee in Russia: what is the size, timing of the introduction

The introduction of the resort gathering in Russia has made a lot of noise in our society. And it can not be said that only the opposition "from the people" were opponents of innovations. Disputes flared up at all levels, including the Cabinet. As it should be in a "normal democratic" state, the point was set by President V. Putin himself. As you know, after his opinion all discussions and disputes cease. What is a resort fee in Russia? Why is it needed, what is its essence? We will try to answer all these questions in this article.

The concept of

Resort fee in Russia is a mandatory fee charged to tourists who come to a certain tourist site. Its purpose is to maintain the existing infrastructure.

Where should funds be directed from the collection

All funds from the collection go exclusively to the budget of the complex in which the vacationers are. Apparently, therefore, federal officials strongly resisted its introduction. It is one thing - the introduction of a new tax that goes to the Center, the other - to impose a fee that will go to the development of a particular facility. The popularity of this decreases, because the new collection has not given anybody any popularity, but money is not added. The essence of the resort fee, which will be effective from March 1, 2017, is that the funds from it must be in the hands of a certain tourist facility and should be directed to:

1. Modernization of resort areas.
2. Financing of nature protection measures.
3. Improved service.
4. Reconstruction of tourist sites, monuments, etc.

That is why the leaders of those regions who have huge tourist flows were most active for him: the Krasnodar Territory, the Altai Territory, the regions of the Golden Ring, and others.

New - well forgotten old?

People of the middle and older age know that the resort fee in Russia, reviews among ordinary citizens about whom extremely negative, already existed relatively recently. It was introduced in 1991 - the RSFSR law "On the resort fee for individuals" - and lasted until 2004. In the early 2000's. Was taken a course for a sharp reduction in taxes. The country "came out of the shadows", such measures were well advertised. Fees per person were minimal, they did not carry a special financial burden. The uninitiated did not know that it existed, and they heard about it only after its abolition.

Today everything is different. The society very negatively perceives the introduction of any additional fees or taxes, as well as the increase of existing ones. In the era of the economic crisis and the decline in the purchasing power of citizens, on the eve of the presidential elections, such a step speaks of the full confidence of the authorities in their actions.

How much will you have

The peculiarity of the new collection is that there is not that fixed amount that our holidaymaker did not notice much. New pricing will be differentiated - the regions were given economic will and freedom in action. This means that the announced price of the collection is 50 to 450 rubles per day - just a recommendation that does not have the force of law.

The final cost will depend on the specific tourist site and on the rates that local officials will set. It is not for nothing that the governors of tourist regions, united in a united front, lobbied the initiative.

What will the collection mean in practice?

In practice, the resort fee in Russia will mean one thing - a significant increase in the cost of permits. So, for example, a family of 4 people can additionally leave about 2 thousand rubles a day at our resorts. Add this in 10-15 days and we will get almost the cost of one "burning" tour to Turkey.

Resort fee is not for everyone

It is not known how things will be in the future, but from March 1, 2017 it was decided to introduce a resort fee in a test mode in four regions:

1. Altai region.
2. Krasnodar region.
3. Stavropol region.
4. Crimea.

The size of the resort gathering each region will determine independently, while they recommended making it as low as possible.

Altai Territory has not yet disclosed its data on tariffs, as for the other test regions, they have already determined the size, calculated the possible profit. The Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs expects to receive about 700 million rubles in the new holiday season, this at a maximum rate of 150 rubles per day. Crimea also announced a one-time fee of 300 rubles, regardless of the number of days.

And how are they?

The practice of resort gathering is common in many tourist countries, but not in all. Be sure to pay in France (1-3 euros), Egypt (7 dollars), Spain (0.7-2.5 euros). In Turkey, Bulgaria and India, there are no such duties, but Russia always relies on the experience of those who raise taxes and fees and introduce new ones.

Not an easy way to introduce a fee

The new collection to local budgets has really suffered the right to exist. Back in 2011, President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the study of the local tax issue, to develop the necessary mechanisms. Then this idea was lobbied by the Governor of the Stavropol Territory. Then officials and economists of various departments were against such an idea. As arguments, it was stated:

1. Lack of expediency and efficiency of collection.
2. Negative attitude to domestic tourism. Then there was no question of any bans on going abroad, import substitution, sanctions and counter-suits, and an appeal for patriotism. Our citizens chose a "burning" ticket to Turkey instead of the Krasnodar Territory, because it was much cheaper, and the service is better. Now, with devaluation, economic and political problems in Russia and the world, this balance is gradually leveling off, and in the near future, most likely, the role of domestic tourism will greatly increase.
3. Such a collection, according to many officials, can provoke various gray and corruption schemes. The perseverance and persistence with which this idea is promoted by local authorities gives reason to think about it.

Whatever it was, but Medvedev's proposal was "lost" in the Finance Ministry. Vice Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak tried to figure out the situation in April, and already in May the Ministry of Finance made a final decision in the inexpediency of collection. This initiative DA Medvedev and ended as president. The next time he remembered it in September 2014 at the International Economic Forum.

In May 2015, the Government already rejected the draft of Senators Evgeny Bushminov, Sergei Ryabukhin, Vladimir Petrov. However, not a single ministry was interested in them: neither Rospotrebnadzor, nor the Ministry of Finance, nor the Ministry of Economic Development. Federal officials felt that the costs would be much higher than the fees themselves. Perhaps, in this way, officials hinted at the lack of the desire to work for specific regions for free, since all funds will completely settle on the ground.

There is a collection - there is no service

Against the tour operators. The main argument is the negative assessment of consumers. This is logical: how can you collect additional fees where there are no more or less normal conditions in comparison with the same Turkey. The necessary funds for reconstruction of existing complexes are collected through such fees only after a few years. Consequently, the first vacationers will actually pay for others who will come here a few years later. This, to put it mildly, is unfair and even, one might say, unconstitutional.

The fight for the collection continues

In the summer of 2015, the Association of Tour Operators (ATOR) reported that a pilot project will appear in the Stavropol Territory. The law is lobbied by the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs. It offers a fixed rate of 50-100 rubles. Funds should go to pay for a hotel and a boarding house after a fact. At that time, there was no increase in the cost of permits due to the introduction of a new collection of speech.

In April 2016 the Ministry of Economic Development gives a negative conclusion to such measures. The main argument is a significant increase in the cost of a voucher in the absence of proper control over cash. Imagine a family of 4 people for a fortnight will give almost 8.5 thousand rubles, and what this money will go to is unknown. It can hardly be hoped that without proper supervision, this money will go to the development of infrastructure before the penny. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, this money will settle in the gray bureaucratic schemes of local officials.

The last word for the president

Vladimir Putin supported the introduction of the resort gathering. After that, all the contradictions of officials at all levels immediately stopped. The project became both expedient, and profitable, and justified. Instead of one pilot region, four were introduced. Resort fee in Russia is, judging by the project, from 300 rubles once to 450 rubles. Per day per person.