The Department of Tourism of Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, has proposed that city authorities introduce a tax on every tourist staying overnight in the city. The fee will amount to 23,000 Vietnamese dong, which is approximately 1 US dollar.
Experts believe the tax will help develop tourism in Ho Chi Minh City. The funds raised could be used for advertising campaigns and professional development for hotel staff. Experts emphasize that the tax is already legally justified—the new Tourism Law provides for the creation of a National Fund for the Development of the Industry.
Another argument in favor of introducing a tourist tax is the similar experience of other countries. For example, in Rome, tourists pay 7 euros per night, while Swiss cities charge $3. In Spain's Balearic Islands, travelers over 16 are subject to a tax of 1 euro when staying in a 3-star hotel and 2 euros in 4- and 5-star hotels. It's worth noting that in the summer of 2017, a tourist tax was introduced in Malaysia, where foreigners pay $2.37 per night. Amsterdam plans to introduce a flat fee of 10 euros plus a percentage of the hotel bill. Currently, tourists in the Dutch capital pay 5% of the room rate.
Despite all the arguments, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee still considers the introduction of the tax premature.
Ho Chi Minh City is located in southern Vietnam. In the first nine months of 2017, it welcomed 4.2 million foreign visitors, an increase of 16.61 million compared to the previous year. The city is known for its French colonial architecture and wide boulevards. Its main attractions include the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Black Lady Mountain, and the magnificent Mekong Delta.
Source: news.turizm.ru
