Draft project on the tourist tax administration, which the State Tax Service launched in April together with 4 communities in Chernivtsi and Khmelnytskyi regions, has already yielded the first positive results. Declared amounts of the tourist tax in these communities increased by 60%. This was informed by acting Head of the State Tax Service, Lesya Karnaukh.

According to her, the project has shown in practice effectiveness of data exchange and analytics, as well as joint work between the State Tax Service and communities to increase revenues to local budgets.

Results specifically by communities:

- Kitayhorodska: in the second quarter for the first time declared the tourist tax in the amount of 45.4 thousand UAH.

- Kamyanets-Podilska: in the second quarter increased indicators by 84% (+203 thousand UAH).

- Staroushytska: 11-fold increase compared to the last year – up to 40 thousand UAH.

- Khotynska: by 15% in the second quarter (+4.9 thousand UAH).

“It is for this result that we launched this project. It is gratifying that others have decided to follow example of these communities. For the first time, the tourist tax was declared in 19 communities from different regions” – noted acting Head of the State Tax Service.

Lesya Karnaukh emphasized that positive tendency is observed throughout the country. In general, declared tourist tax amounts in Ukraine increased by 25.2% (+17.7 million UAH) in the first quarter and by 24.9% (+19.7 million UAH) in the second quarter.

“State Tax Service is always ready to help communities: provide analytics, together we see potential growth points, and work to ensure that all participants in the tourism market act according to the same rules” – Lesya Karnaukh emphasized.

She added that, according to experts, 20-30% of the market operates in the “shadow”. And this is a loss for communities. Therefore, they should be interested in establishing the tourist tax. Strong local budget begins with understanding its own resources.