The Lofoten Islands in the far north are also fed up with tourists. There will be fees.

In June, several mayors from the Lofoten Islands traveled to Oslo to press the central government. Their efforts were successful, with the Norwegian Parliament approving the introduction of local tourist fees. Initially, overnight hotel guests and cruise ship passengers will be required to pay a few euros per day.

The tourist tax is just the first step

“ Finally, we won’t have to choose between renovating the school or cleaning up after tourists? ” says a relieved mayor of Vågan Vidar Thom Benjaminsen .

Although tourism brings many benefits to the region—especially where other sources of income, such as fishing, are declining—local authorities believe controls are needed. " Ten years ago, only 2-3 percent of residents were opposed to tourists. Today, it's 20-25 percent. The mood is deteriorating, " explains Benjaminsen.

To prevent tensions from escalating, new regulations are necessary. The tourist tax is just the beginning. In Norway's capital, discussions are already underway on the next step: introducing an additional fee for tourists using platforms like Airbnb.

\n