The already expensive country for tourists may become even more expensive: Norway is discussing the introduction of a tourist tax for tourists. It should be noted that the country is visited annually by about 10 million tourists, the main tourist attractions are fjords, islands, and wildlife, as well as tours to “transported” islands. It is the desire to preserve pristine nature that the government explains the idea of ​​introducing a new tax on tourist activities. norway tourist tax

According to the local agency NTB, as part of the agreement, the government will propose to introduce a tax on tourism in 2024. This policy will be included in the 2024 budget, which will be presented next autumn. There are no details yet, the tourism tax discussion is at an early stage and the government is “exploring options”, experts add.

“We need to explore all options and see how such a tax can be developed both practically and legally. But the idea is to give local people more opportunities,” commented Lars Vangen, State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. The tax may come in the form of payment by tourists of an additional tax to hotels, souvenirs, and tourist activities.

The expert also explained that one of the reasons for the tourist tax is that many tourist attractions are located in small local authorities, where municipalities spend huge sums of money every year to maintain attractions, maintain main walking routes, and fight against pollution and pollution.

Fjords

Norway has the highest concentration of fjords in the world, and nowhere on earth are there more fjords than in Fjord Norway. Formed when the glaciers retreated and seawater flooded the U-shaped valleys, the fjords have made Norway famous. The Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord feature on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The long Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord, famed for their cherry and appIe trees, are amongst the most visited. But the Lysefjord just outside of Stavanger (home to the famous Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock) and the Nordfjord further north are also very popular holiday destinations. National Geographic Magazine has named the fjords “the best-unspoiled travel destinations in the world”. And the respected American newspaper Chicago Tribune has included Norway’s fjords on its list of Seven Wonders of Nature.

Wildlife

Wildlife enthusiasts will be spoilt in Norway, where moose, reindeer, deer, lynx, and foxes all roam freely. You might see wolves in the most remote areas of eastern Norway, black bears in the Pasvik Valley in Finnmark, polar bears on Svalbard, and even musk oxen, a descendant of the last ice age, in Dovre. Whale watching is a popular activity off the coast of Vesterålen, and Norway is also home to two of the world’s best bird cliffs, Røst and Runde. The Varangerhalvøya peninsula in Northern Norway is another good spot for bird-watching, with lots of migratory birds in season.

Christmas in Norway tourist tax

The run-up to Christmas is a special time in Norway. Candles light up homes during the cold, dark winter months. Most Norwegian towns and cities have Christmas fairs and markets, seasonal concerts, and performances at this time. Oslo’s largest Christmas market is the one at the folk museum Norsk Folkemuseum on Bygdøy. Bergen is famous for its Gingerbread Town which is erected on Torgallmenningen every year. The mining town of Røros in Eastern Norway is a truly magical place to visit in December, and Tregaarden’s Christmas House in Drøbak is a must-see as Scandinavia’s only permanent Christmas shop. Typical Christmas food includes ribbe (roasted pork belly), pinnekjøtt (salted and dried, sometimes smoked, lamb ribs) and lutefisk (stockfish softened in water and lye before cooking).