VILNIUS, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian capital is introducing a city tax for tourists as of July 1, aimed at boosting competitiveness, improving tourism and recreation infrastructure, the city's administration announced on Monday.
The city tax rate, 1 euro (1.16 U.S. dollars) per person per night, will be charged all year round, the city's administration said. The tax will be charged to guests of the city who are provided accommodation services and who use the public tourism and recreation infrastructure of the Vilnius city.
"Together with business representatives, we will decide where the collected funds will be redirected in order to ensure the best returns for the city and increase the attractiveness and awareness of Vilnius in the world," Inga Romanovskiene, head of the city's official tourism and development agency Go Vilnius, was quoted as saying in a statement.
The purpose of the tax is to boost the competitiveness of Vilnius, develop international marketing in the area of tourism, attract larger flows of tourists to the city, and increase the volumes of export services, the statement reads.
There are a few exemptions from the tax, including for the disabled, adolescents under the age of 18 or groups renting 10 rooms or more.
Those providing the accommodation will be obliged to inform tourists about the tax, collect the money and transfer the collected funds to the Vilnius municipality.
Evalda Siskauskiene, president of the Lithuanian Hotels and Restaurants Association, expressed her hope that the new tax will contribute to attracting new flight carriers to the Lithuanian capital.
"Businesses agreed to collect the tourist tax as they understand that we need additional funds in order to fully exploit the city's tourism potential," Siskauskiene was quoted as saying in the statement.
Tourist tax is applied in many main tourism destinations in Europe, including Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Rome and others.
Tourist tax is already collected in a few Lithuanian resort cities, such as Druskininkai, Palanga, Birstonas and Trakai.
