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Norway's plan for tourist tax changed to target cruise passengers

In the latest turn of events, the Labour Party has vowed to include new groups of tourists across the country in the tax scheme proposal. The policy U-turn comes after mounting criticism that the government's so-called 'visitor contribution' unfairly burdened hotels, campsites, and Airbnb providers while exempting the very groups most associated with over-tourism: cruise passengers and campervan tourists. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Norway's planned tourist tax A reworked plan In a recent statement to the newspaper Børsen , Labour's business policy spokesperson Rune Støstad confirmed that the party has been working behind the scenes in recent weeks to refine the proposal. 'We have really listened to all input and done a job to accommodate and extend a hand to all parties,' Støstad said. The revamped plan now includes three key changes - cruise tourists should be taxed nationwide, the general tourist tax will initially apply only to northern Norway, and the scheme will run for two years before being evaluated for potential national rollout. While details on the exact rate for cruise tourists remain undefined, Støstad emphasized that the aim is to 'make the tax fairer.' Advertisement From exemption to inclusion Initially, the government's plan introduced earlier this spring reduced the rate for the accommodation sector from 5 to 3 percent – in line with many European cities – but left out cruise and campervan tourists. Municipalities were granted the discretion to implement the tax, but its focus drew ire for missing its intended targets. Industry voices, as well as political opponents from the Progress Party (Frp), Conservative Party (Høyre), Socialist Left (SV), and the Center Party (Sp), questioned the logic and fairness of the proposal. Their criticism has now helped shape the updated framework. READ MORE: Norway wants tourist tax in place by summer 2025 Advertisement Centre Party pushback Despite the Labour Party's efforts to 'sweeten the deal' by including cruise tourists, gaining parliamentary support remains uncertain. The Centre Party, a former government partner, has stated that it still cannot support the revised proposal, the newspaper DN reported. This opposition casts doubt over whether the bill – designed to help municipalities offset the environmental and infrastructural wear caused by mass tourism – will pass a parliamentary vote. As things now stand, more work is needed to reach a consensus. READ MORE: How will Norway be affected by climate change-driven tourism?