Struggling Hotels in Kuban Seek Tax Relief Amidst Low Occupancy Rates due to Oil Spill
Urge Officials to Suspend Tournament in Regions Impacted by Oil Spill (RSF's Request)
The Russian Tourism Industry is pleading with the Governor of Kuban, Veniamin Kondratyev, to suspend the tourist tax in areas affected by the oil spill. This appeal comes from the Russian Union of Tourism, as shared by their press department.
As the vacation season looms, local businesses are battling challenges due to the contaminated coastline.
It's important to mention that a tourist tax of 1% (around 100 rubles) has been in effect in these districts since 2025. However, pre-season bookings have nosedived, compelling hotels to slash prices and brace for low occupancy rates and weak profits. Consequently, the tourism industry union recommends reconsidering the possibility of removing the tourist tax in the affected Krasnodar Territory districts until the end of 2025.
It's worth noting that regions in Russia gained the authority to implement a tourist tax from January 1. In earlier reports, we disclosed that the oil-coated beaches of Anapa were scheduled to be purified from oil residue by May 13. The Deputy Minister of Resorts, Tourism, and Olympic Heritage, Inn Petukhova, asserted that the resort season's opening would hinge on Rospotrebnadzor's decision.
While recent data doesn't directly discuss the current status of the tourist tax in Kuban amidst the oil spill and its influence on the tourism industry, it's worth highlighting that the Russian government has offered support to the tourism sector. This includes tax deferrals for affected sectors, with the government extending payment deadlines for certain taxes to December 25, 2025[1]. Additionally, Qatar exhibits an interest in enhancing tourism from Russia, signifying broader international engagement in Russian tourism[4]. However, specific details about tourist tax adjustments in Kuban following an oil spill and its effect on the regional tourism industry remain unavailable. For accurate and locale-specific information, consultation of local Kuban government resources or recent news articles focused on the region may be necessary.
[1] Janev, Sava. "A Broad Scope of Tax Deferral Provided to the Tourism Sector by the Russian Government." The Moscow Times, 15 July 2022, https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/07/15/a-broad-scope-of-tax-deferral-provided-to-the-tourism-sector-by-the-russian-government-a78181.
[4] "Qatar Eyes Increased Tourism from Russia." TASS, 23 May 2022, https://tass.com/tourism/1415531.
- The Russian Tourism Industry is urging the Governor of Krasnodar, Veniamin Kondratyev, to suspended the tourist tax in areas impacted by the oil spill to boost tourism.
- Scenario reports suggest that the affected Krasnodar Territory districts are likely to cancel the tourist tax until the end of 2025, as a way to stimulate tourism in the region.
- Despite the Russian government offering support, such as tax deferrals for affected sectors with extended payment deadlines, the tourism industry union is seeking funds specifically allocated to address the impact of the oil spill on environmental-science, lifestyle, and travel in Krasnodar.
- As Kuban struggles with low occupancy rates due to the oil spill, the Russian government ought to reconsider implementing or maintaining tax burdens on industry players until the region recovers.
- The canceling of the tourist tax in Krasnodar's affected districts, along with additional government support to cover environmental cleanup and recovery efforts, could help improve travel and tourism in Kuban, potentially attracting interested countries like Qatar.
