The Deputy of Bishkek City Council, Deputy Toktosun Sultanov, put forward a proposal to implement a city tax in Bishkek. The suggested tax, aimed at foreign citizens, is designed to contribute to the city’s budget without impacting its residents.
Explaining the rationale behind the proposal, Sultanov pointed out that many countries impose a city tax on travelers, particularly when staying in hotels. He emphasized that this tax would be applicable exclusively to foreign visitors and not to the city’s inhabitants.
The deputy sees this initiative as a means to bolster the city’s budget and gather essential data on tourist numbers. The funds generated from the proposed city tax are intended to be directed toward supporting tourist sites and the maintenance of monuments.
City tax, a fee commonly imposed by local authorities in major tourist destinations, is typically reinvested in the tourism sector. This includes initiatives such as monument restoration, infrastructure development, landscaping projects, festivals, and sporting events. If approved, the proposed city tax in Bishkek could contribute to the enhancement of the city’s appeal to tourists while concurrently supporting various tourism-related projects.
