Hoteliers and restaurateurs in Ruse are protesting against the drastic increase in the tourist tax. First of all, this will increase the price of the night. Ruse is the city with the highest tourist tax in the country, after the municipality proposed a double increase.
72 are the working hotels in Ruse, specifies BNT. None of them have five stars. Although the tourist tax has not been updated for 13 years, the industry union is worried about the price increase that the municipality is proposing.
"Increase BGN 1 for category 1 star, BGN 1.50 – for 2 stars, category 3 - BGN 2, category 4 - BGN 2.50, category 5 – BGN 3", notes Maya Rusanova, chairman of the union of hoteliers and restaurateurs-Ruse
Unlike other European countries, in our country the tourist tax is included in the total price of the night's stay and the hotelier is the one who must subtract it from it and pay it to the relevant municipality at the end of the month. The fee for the "sidewalk right" will be doubled. - from 7.50 per square meter to BGN 14, therefore an extension of the winter season is being discussed.
"We have a proposal that the price be different so that we can reach some kind of consensus. It is extremely difficult for business because the costs are high and the increase in overnight stays is not drastic. But with the increase in costs, the profit margin of each hotelier fell, as well as that of restaurateurs," points out Maya Rusanova
According to Milena Gogeva, a representative of a travel agency, Ruse is not a popular tourist destination.
"Rather, they connect us to a checkpoint. 5 nights is unrealistic to talk about, maximum one to two on the way to Romania or from Romania. I've had an inquiry to seat 1200 people for an event happening in our city, guess what? Where should we accommodate these 1200 people? It is good to raise the tourist tax, but what will we offer the tourist in return for this increase", she commented.
The review of the tourist tax by the relevant committees is pending before it will be voted on at the last meeting of the municipal councilors for the year.