Tromsø set to become first Norwegian municipality to collect tourist tax

Tromsø municipality formally voted to introduce a tourist tax (turistskatt) on 24 June 2026, with collection planned to start from 1 January 2027. The Arctic city is the first Norwegian municipality known to have formally approved the measure. The vote followed the passage of Norway's new visitor contribution law (Besøksbidragsloven) by the Storting in June 2025.

The Besøksbidragsloven enters into force on 1 July 2026. Municipalities that want to introduce the fee must have their plans approved by the ministry and must also adopt a local regulation before collection can begin. Tromsø municipality plans to submit its plan to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries on 1 July 2026.

Status: confirmed by municipal vote, not yet in force. Collection planned from 1 January 2027, subject to ministerial approval.

What the new law allows

The Besøksbidragsloven grants municipalities the right to levy a visitor contribution on overnight stays and cruise ship passengers, but only if they can demonstrate significant tourism pressure. The scheme is voluntary, and each municipality must apply individually rather than the tax applying nationwide.

The fee will initially be set at 3 percent and applies to both hotels and short term rentals. Travellers using personal camper vans, tents, and boats are exempt from the fee. Revenue must be used exclusively for tourism related infrastructure such as public facilities, waste management, signage, and trail maintenance.

Scale and scope

Tromsø recorded more than 1.3 million commercial overnight stays in 2025 and received around 180 cruise calls and more than 190,000 cruise passengers. The municipality must also coordinate with neighbouring areas including Karlsøy, Balsfjord, Storfjord, and Lyngen, since many visitor excursions extend beyond Tromsø's own borders.

Lofoten is also expected to introduce the tax, and other Norwegian municipalities with high tourism pressure may follow as the framework beds in.

What this means for the market

The tax applies to all commercial overnight accommodation booked in participating municipalities, across hotels, short term rentals, and the platforms that list them. As Norway's first municipality to formally adopt the visitor contribution, Tromsø sets a precedent that other Norwegian destinations are likely to watch closely before submitting their own applications.

Trippz coverage

Trippz tracks tourist tax developments across 60+ countries and adds new and updated rates automatically once they are confirmed. Tromsø's tax will be added to Trippz coverage once it is formally confirmed and in force. See the Trippz Norway tourist tax page for current Norwegian rates.