Seychelles introduced a tourism environmental sustainability levy introduced in August 2023

Seychelles

Tourism is one of the main pillars of the Seychelles economy, accounting directly and indirectly for 13% of the GDP in 2022(central bank of Seychelles ,2022). The total number of visitors who disembarked in Seychelles in 2022 amounted to 332,068, with an average length of stay of 9.9 days.

Seychelles has always aimed to maintain the ecological balance and protect its unique environment. To further enhance conservation efforts and secure a sustainable future for the nation’s tourism industry, the Ministry of Finance, National Planning, and Trade has taken a critical step with the introduction of the Seychelles’ Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy.

The newly introduced levy is charged in Seychelles Rupees on a per person / per night basis at R25 ($2) for small hotels, R75 ($6) for medium sized hotels or R100 ($8) for large hotels. There are exemptions for children under 12, staff of airline companies and Seychellois citizens.

The primary aim of the Seychelles’ Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is to support environmental conservation and rehabilitation initiatives. By directing the proceeds from this levy towards the environment, Seychelles seeks to further protect and enhance the natural environment that draws thousands of visitors each year.

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Seychelles’ Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy Takes Effect August 1

  • July 8, 2023

The Seychelles’ tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective as of August 1 with a three-tiered approach, said Vice President Ahmed Afif on Thursday.

The levy was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in its meeting on Wednesday.

Afif told reporters that “The government decided after several discussions with all parties to put the levy at R25 ($2), R75 ($6) or R100 ($8) which at the moment is the more agreeable way to implement it.”

He said that what has been agreed is that SCR25 will be for small hotels, SCR 75 for medium-sized hotel,s and SCR 100 for large hotels.

Afif said details on which hotels fall within which categories will be given by the Department of Tourism based on the existing legislation.

“The way it will be collected is when an establishment makes it invoice like they collect Value Added Tax (VAT) today, there will be a line on the invoice for the environment tax and will be based on per person per night,” he explained.

Afif added that “there will be an exemption for children under 12, staff of airline companies and Seychellois citizens.

On the question of whether this might affect Seychelles’ main tourism markets from Europe, the Vice President said this is not an exorbitant sum.

“For a small hotel a guest will pay SCR 25 and if the person spends 10 nights it will be SCR210 which is around $15 dollars it is not considered as a high cost. Of course, this will be higher for a guest in large hotels,” he said.

Afif said the important part is to advise clients early and explain its purpose and that sufficient time has been given for tourism establishments to inform visitors.

“We are not just collecting a tax […], the intention is to improve our environment in which the visitors are living and that we are aiming for renewable energy and this will need investment and this levy will be their contribution to help a small country that is doing a lot for the environment today,” said the Vice President.

He pointed out that Seychelles is one of the small countries that are the most affected by actions that have nothing to do with us and gave the example of the rising sea levels which is happening because of what is going on in industrialised countries.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Tourism environment sustainability levy: |11 August 2023

Tourism environment sustainability levy:

David Lowseck, tourism analyst and consultant

A one way ticket to gains or losses?

As of August 1, visitors staying at tourism establishments in Seychelles are paying a newly introduced levy, on a per person, per night basis. The levy, approved by cabinet last month, places the responsibility for collection on establishment owners, when invoicing clients for their stay.

Since its introduction, the levy has been met with some resistance from tourism actors who have expressed that while they are in support of such a levy, government should revise the payment or collection mechanism, as well as finding means to better communicate the levy to visitors so as to avoid confusion.

Eager to have their concerns heard, numerous hotel and small establishment owners have signed a petition by the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), who have gone as far as seeking legal advice as to how to move forward.

Seychelles NATION sought the views of a tourism analyst and consultant, David Lowseck, on the matter. The following is Mr Lowseck’s expert opinion.

The pros and cons of the Tourism Environmental Levy

The newly introduced Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy in Seychelles is long overdue and recommended taking into consideration that Seychelles tourism carrying capacity is limited due to its small land size. Environmental protection, infrastructure development and good management are primordial to ensure that Seychelles keeps its rich biodiversity and forests intact for both the Seychellois people and visitors. It should be noted that many popular tourism destinations in the world have already introduced different kinds of tourism levies for visitors. Example Dubai tourism tax is US $8 per night for 5-star establishments, US $2 per night for budget hotel, and 10 percent tax on room rate. In Singapore, there is a 17 percent tax on hotel bill, while in Mauritius it is 15 percent on hotel bill. As for the Maldives, there is an 8 percent on room rate, plus 16 percent tax in tourism goods and services.

Seychelles: US $7 per night for 5-star; US $5 per night for medium size and US $2 per night for guesthouses.

This long-term protection has a cost.  However, the government must understand that the international tourism industry is very sensitive to prices, levies and indirect taxes especially at short notice. The need of substantial lead time for the implementation of any tourism levies or taxes to the tourism industry is crucial and critical to avoid frustrations, confusions and chaos in its initial stage of implementation. It should be noted that adequate notice and communication, say, eight to 12 months ahead, to international and long haul tourism operators is required as they operate on long term planning cycles. In fact, some have already finalised their holiday programmes for 2024!

Risk of devolution

It should be noted that any price increase to a visitor’s bill can be regarded as a negative point and such thinking could be potential for behavioural change on the part of the visitor. The environmental sustainability levy or tax requires a significant level of national consistency in terms of design and operation to reduce complexity and minimise costs of compliance.

Consistency is important for visitors themselves as different levy or tax arrangements could be viewed negatively by those moving between different classes of accommodation in Seychelles. The risk of devolution could create complexities and inefficiencies in the collection of the levy. Simplicity in design and operation is very important and easily understood by the visitors.

Logistics and implementation

The collection of the environmental levy by operators of accommodation establishments and yachts require the implementation, administration, collection, processing and enforcement of the levy. All operators need to change or adapt existing IT, accounting and booking systems and train staff to comply with the law.

There could be potentially ongoing costs associated with the administration and remitting of the levies to the Seychelles Revenue Commission. In its early stage of implementation, the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade should facilitate the process and assist all accommodation operators. The strong arm ‘stick’ penalty for non-compliance in its early stage of implementation is not the right solution. Tourism is a sensitive and difficult industry and we must not try and penalise operators and visitors. Effective communication and dialogue is crucial.

Acceptance of the environmental levy

I must admit that international visitors normally do accept ‘green environment levies’ in any tourism destinations in the world provided there is transparency and effective communication to inform visitors where the levy or tax is being used for. In the case of Seychelles, sustainability of the environment is crucial to the survival of the tourism industry especially with limited land space available.  We must find and determine the right balance of tourism development to match with the social, environmental and agricultural needs of the country. Therefore, finding the right carrying capacity is important to safeguard the fragile environment of Seychelles. The environmental levy will no doubt provide Seychelles the financial resources to safeguard and manage the pristine environment for both the local population and visitors.

Acceptance of the levy

In view that the Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is not new to visitors who travel to the many tourist destinations in the world, Seychelles’ new levy will also be accepted in the months ahead. However, the real issue that will affect both the operators and tourists in the short term is the timing and narrow implementation timeline. As the “horse has bolted”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism must develop a communication public relations strategy to educate, sensitise, motivate visitors in the merits of the new tourism environmental levy. It will be an excellent public relations exercise each year to inform the world what Seychelles has done with the levy and the many benefits visitors will enjoy in the years ahead.

It should be noted that the tourism industry is vulnerable to any drastic and sudden change to its existing structure, pricing, image and perception. As per the PLC Matrix model, Seychelles is still evolving with a positive growth pattern after the pandemic Covid-19 but in view that the country has not yet reached its maturity level, Seychelles will always be vulnerable to any negative internal or external factors. And the environmental levy is one of those internal factors.

A prediction of some cancellation of existing hotel bookings will no doubt occur in the next few months. It should be noted that approximately between 70 to 90 percent of visitors to Seychelles are price sensitive as a majority has saved money for their annual dream holidays. Request for additional taxes to the holiday package will not be regarded in good light. Furthermore, in the short term, many visitors will believe that accommodation establishments in Seychelles are increasing their room tariffs without prior notification. It is a catch 22 and hoteliers will have to explain the reasons for the increase well. The real issue is not about the levy, but the way and timing it was presented to the industry and visitors. Designing an effective communication network to sensitise all tourism partners will be necessary in the next three months. Only then will the levy be accepted by all tourism partners and visitors, and Seychelles could become a world leader in destination tourism environmental management.

Innovation to encourage compliance

A two-page ‘Seychelles Tourism Environmental Sustainability passport’, a small brochure-like product containing information about ongoing environmental projects in the Seychelles will greatly help. It can be given to visitors upon paying the fee, and marketed to make them feel that they are part of an environmental club. They will bring this home and will keep it as a souvenir or a gift as it is tangible. It will also serve to act as a promotional tool.

The little ‘passport’ can even contain a QR code, through which visitors can access websites or platforms, such as that of the department of environment. This would be unique to Seychelles.

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Eden Island Marina

Seychelles Environment Levy: New Tourism Tax Effects Visitors

As of the 01 August 2023, the Seychelles Government has imposed a daily 'Environment Levy' on all visitors to Seychelles. This new 'tourism tax,' as it has been nicknamed, aims to raise funds to mitigate the environmental impact that the rising tourism sector has on the country.

The levy, has three applicable rates :

  • For establishments with 1 to 24 rooms, the rate stands at SCR25 ($2) per person per night.
  • For medium-sized establishments with 25 to 50 rooms, the rate stands at SCR75 ($6) per person per night
  • Large establishments with over 51 rooms, yachts , and island resorts – SCR100 ($8) per person per night.

The fees will be collected by the establishments providing the accommodation on the government's behalf.

Those exempt from paying the fees are:

  • Seychellois Citizens
  • Seychellois Residents
  • Children Under 12
  • Crew members of yachts and planes

The primary aim of the Seychelles’ Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is to support environmental conservation and rehabilitation initiatives. By directing the proceeds from this levy towards the environment, Seychelles seeks to further protect and enhance the natural environment that draws thousands of visitors each year.

Over SCR85 million ($6.3 million) is expected to be collected through the new levy for the period August 1 to December 31, according to a government official.

We hope that you have found this article on the new Seychelles Environment Levy useful when planning your trip to Seychelles, reminding you to calculate your daily cost per/night per/ person when budgeting your holiday in our beautiful archipelago. You can read the official statement by the Seychelles Tourism Department regarding the new Seychelles Environment Levy  here

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AfricaReporter

Seychelles’ tourism environmental sustainability levy takes effect August 1

  • Post author: africareporter
  • Post published: July 6, 2023
  • Post category: Seychelles News

( Seychelles News Agency ) – The Seychelles’ tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective as of August 1 with a three-tiered approach, said Vice President Ahmed Afif on Thursday.

The levy was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in its meeting on Wednesday.

Afif told reporters that “The government decided after several discussions with all parties to put the levy at  R25 ($2), R75  ($6) or R100 ($8) which at the moment is the more agreeable way to implement it.”

He said that what has been agreed is that SCR25 will be for small hotels, SCR 75 for medium-sized hotel,s and SCR 100 for large hotels.

Afif said details on which hotels fall within which categories will be given by the Department of Tourism based on the existing legislation.

“The way it will be collected is when an establishment makes it invoice like they collect Value Added Tax (VAT) today, there will be a line on the invoice for the environment tax and will be based on per person per night,” he explained.

Afif added that “there will be an exemption for children under 12, staff of airline companies and Seychellois citizens.

On the question of whether this might affect Seychelles’ main tourism markets from Europe, the Vice President said this is not an exorbitant sum.

“For a small hotel a guest will pay SCR 25 and if the person spends 10 nights it will be SCR210 which is around $15 dollars it is not considered as a high cost. Of course, this will be higher for a guest in large hotels,” he said.

Afif said the important part is to advise clients early and explain its purpose and that sufficient time has been given for tourism establishments to inform visitors.

“We are not just collecting a tax […], the intention is to improve our environment in which the visitors are living and that we are aiming for renewable energy and this will need investment and this levy will be their contribution to help a small country that is doing a lot for the environment today,” said the Vice President.

He pointed out that Seychelles is one of the small countries that are the most affected by actions that have nothing to do with us and gave the example of the rising sea levels which is happening because of what is going on in industrialised countries. 

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Seychelles Introduce Tourism Environmental Levy

Effective 1st August 2023, the Seychelles Government is implementing a new Environmental Sustainability Levy.

The levy has been introduced to generate funds which will be invested into preserving and enhancing the Seychelles’ natural environment by supporting green, renewable energy, and environmental conservation.

Under the newly introduced levy, all clients arriving in Seychelles as from 1st August 2023 will be required to contribute based on a per person/per night basis. The payment will be made in-destination, in Seychelles Rupees. It will be added directly to clients’ hotel invoice at check-out, ensuring payment is seamless and convenient.

The levy will be charged based on the size of the hotel as follows:

• Small Hotels (1-24 rooms) – SCR 25 (US$2) per person, per night • Medium-sized hotels (25 – 50 rooms) – SCR 75 (US$6) per person, per night • Large hotels (51+ rooms, island resorts*, yachts) – SCR 100 (US$8) per person, per night *Island Resorts relate to establishments based on any island other than Mahe, Praslin, La Digue or Cerf Island.

Children under 12, airline company staff, and Seychellois citizens are exempt from the levy.

If you would like more information please contact  Charlotte Chilcott  or  Peter McLeod  or call us on +44 1980 847389. Alternatively click  HERE  if you would like us to contact you.

More about the author – Charlotte Chilcott

tourism environmental levy

Seychelles Implements Environmental Sustainability Levy

The levy is expected to foster a sense of collective responsibility, with tourists contributing to the preservation of Seychelles.

Brunno Braga • Jul 21, 2023

tourism environmental levy

The Seychelles government has taken a bold step towards environmental sustainability in its thriving tourism industry by introducing an environmental sustainability levy. It will go into effect on Aug. 1. The Vice President, Ahmed Afif, announced the implementation of the levy on Thursday. He revealed a three-tiered approach aimed at ensuring a fair and inclusive contribution from tourism establishments.

The new tourism environmental sustainability levy may foster a sense of collective responsibility. Tourists are contributing to the preservation of Seychelles’ unique and fragile natural environment with this levy. By making this investment, Seychelles endeavors to set an example in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.

Seychelles’ Cabinet of Ministers gave its approval for the levy during its recent meeting on Wednesday. This followed extensive discussions with stakeholders in the tourism sector. Vice President Afif highlighted that the government aimed to strike a balance between environmental preservation and the interests of all parties involved.

Under the new levy system, the government established three different rates. Small hotels will pay Seychellois Rupees (SCR) 25, which is approximately $2. Medium-sized hotels will pay SCR 75, which is about $6. Large hotels will face a levy of SCR 100, approximately $8.

The Department of Tourism will be responsible for categorizing hotels based on existing legislation to ensure accurate levy implementation. The levy will be collected like Value Added Tax (VAT). There is an additional line on invoices specifying the environmental tax. It will be levied on a per-person, per-night basis.

However, certain exemptions have been put in place to accommodate specific groups. Children, under the age of 12, airline company staff, and Seychellois citizens will be exempted from paying the sustainability levy.

Addressing concerns about the potential impact on Seychelles’ main tourism markets in Europe, Vice President Afif emphasized that the levy’s costs were reasonable. He cited an example of a small hotel guest paying SCR 25 per night, which would amount to only SCR 210 (approximately $15) for a ten-night stay. While acknowledging that the cost might be slightly higher for guests in larger hotels, Afif highlighted the importance of early communication to inform visitors about the levy’s purpose and encourage their support.

In a statement, Vice President Afif underscored the critical role of the sustainability levy in funding environmental initiatives and advancing renewable energy projects in Seychelles. He emphasized that the country, despite being small, disproportionately is affected by environmental issues, resulting from actions in industrialized nations. Rising sea levels are an example of the global impact on Seychelles.

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Bali police to start checking foreign tourist levy vouchers at holiday hotspots

Authorities in one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations will begin stopping tourists at holiday hotspots for one simple reason.

Liam Beatty

Bali’s tourism police have unveiled plans to begin approaching foreigners at holiday hotspots in an effort to drive up the number of visitors shelling out for a new tourism tax.

The Indonesian island, long one of Australia’s favourite travel destinations, introduced a new Foreign Tourist Levy on Valentines Day this year, with funds raised aimed to protect their culture and environment, build infrastructure and improve safety.

Over the past month, anyone visiting Bali has been expected to cough up 150,000 IDR, about $15 AUD, but so far only 40 per cent have made the payment, according to the Bali Provincial Tourism Office.

Pre-pandemic, Bali saw more than 16 million international visitors in 2019, meaning the province could add about $240 million dollars more to it’s tourism revenue annually.

To boost compliance, Tourism Office head Tjok Bagus Pemayun announced this week tourism police and other authorities will begin inspecting visitors at top holiday destinations.

“Since the PWA was implemented, an average of 5,000 foreign tourists paid per day,” he said.

“So we carry out monitoring, namely monitoring and evaluation of foreign tourist levy at tourism destination.”

More than a million Australians visit Bali annually. Picture: Sonny Tumbelaka/ AFP

Mr Pemayun said tourism authorities will begin targeting destinations like Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Ulun Danu Beratan and Tampaksiring, twice a week from Monday before expanding the inspection areas.

Announcing the policy in September last year, Bali’s governor Wayan Koster said travel to Bali had grown after Covid-19 restrictions eased, and he hoped the fee would “trigger a revival of the tourism industry”.

Inspectors will be checking visitors for a QR code obtained after the levy is paid at the airport or via the Love Bali website or app.

No fines have been announced for a failure to pay, but authorities will require visitors without the QR code to pay on the spot.

The tourist tax is paid on top of the existing $50 visa fee.

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The Walls of Jerusalem national park in Tasmania.

How badly do Tasmanians want to protect nature? The state election may provide answers

The major parties have been all but silent on the environment this campaign, while the Greens say more nature should be protected

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T asmania markets itself as a natural beauty, pitching to people on the mainland that they should “come down for air” , but it’s been a different story in the island state’s frenzied election campaign. Nature was nearly entirely absent from the first month of campaigning ahead of election day on 23 March.

By late last week, the incumbent Liberal party had issued more than 220 press releases since the campaign kicked off on Valentine’s Day. None included an environment policy. Labor, which is attempting to return to power after 10 years in the political wilderness, had sent out 130 press releases without mentioning nature.

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Coincidentally or otherwise, that changed after the Tasmanian Greens flew journalists to Melaleuca, deep in the south-west world heritage wilderness, to make a string of announcements on Friday.

Kate Crowley, an adjunct associate professor in politics at the University of Tasmania, said the environment had been “noticeably absent” from the election campaign despite what is sometimes described as the state’s clean, green image. She said this wasn’t surprising.

“We have seen a continuing erosion of support from the major parties for protecting important nature areas,” she said. “In a way, this is as much a reaction to the Greens as anything to do with the environment itself. Labor and the Liberals tend to ignore the environment unless it’s really pushed under their nose and they’re forced to do something.”

With less than a week to go until polling day, a central question is whether this reflects the will of the electorate. Polling by uComms of 1,174 Tasmanians, commissioned by progressive thinktank the Australia Institute and released last week, suggested a majority oppose a Liberal promise to allow logging in 40,000 hectares of protected forests .

It also found there was strong support (69%) for reducing the number of inshore salmon farms – a step that would be at odds with the policies of major parties, which both back the fish farming industry. But the poll did not test the extent to which these issues would influence how people voted.

The Australia Institute’s state director, Eloise Carr, said the results showed people were not satisfied with “a continuation of the status quo” on environmental and other issues, and that the lack of focus on nature in the campaign ignored that “people visit and live in Tasmania because it’s a part of the planet that is in relatively good nick”.

“Voters are asking why this policy vacuum exists,” Carr said. “And Tasmanians do care – look at the numbers.”

Into the wild with the Greens

On Friday, the Greens MP Vica Bayley led a group of journalists, tourism operators and Indigenous leaders that flew over the path of the South Coast track , a bushwalking trail through 85km of remote, scenic wilderness, to launch the party’s nature policy. The view below took in button grass plains, pristine beaches, steep peaks and country with documented Indigenous history.

The track is the subject of a contentious proposal to allow six luxury accommodation huts that would open the area to a greater range of tourists but would, according to an analysis commissioned by the Wilderness Society, significantly affect the wilderness values of the area.

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The Greens oppose what they say has been a “dodgy” process under which tourism businesses have been invited to lodge expressions of interest for developments in the world heritage area and national parks, with little transparency over what would result.

Their policy also promises to fight to establish an Aboriginal-owned national park and expand the world heritage area that was established in 1982 and covers about a fifth of the state, but excludes areas that campaigners say have been found to have unique wilderness values.

Tabatha Badger, a Greens candidate for Lyons, a seat that includes rural areas and coastal towns, said the minor party was fighting to protect natural places while the Liberals and Labor ignored them. “Where are the other parties? We’d absolutely welcome some sensible environment policies from them, but yet again they are letting Tasmanians down,” she said

Tabatha Badger and Tory Stewart

While the Greens were in the wild, Labor released its first environment statement of the campaign. It was not backed by a media conference or public events. Labor accused the Liberal party of having “no interest in protecting our environment” and failing to release a state of the environment report during its decade in power, despite legislation requiring one every five years.

Labor’s policies include a promised $500,000 package to create new jobs managing national parks, a position similar to that also backed by the Greens. It said it would work to reduce the effect of feral fallow deer, provide increased funding for Landcare and release the state’s first state of the environment report since 2009.

Its remaining environment policies, including a ban on single-use plastics, introducing a container deposit scheme that has been in development under the Liberal government and a restatement of existing climate commitments, were not nature-related. The party’s environment spokesperson, Sarah Lovell, said Labor would “get on with the work needed to protect our environment and parks, to ensure our children can enjoy the same Tasmania we know and love”.

The Liberal party followed with a parks and environment statement on Saturday. The premier, Jeremy Rockliff, said Tasmania’s parks were “world-class”, that its “globally significant natural environment is the jewel in our state’s crown” and that more than 50% of the state’s environment was “protected forever”. This figure is disputed by the Greens and environmentalists, who say development, logging and mining are allowed in significant areas counted to reach 50%.

Rockliff promised that if re-elected the Liberals would spend $15m to upgrade three parks to “enhance the visitor experience for visitors and locals alike”, and commit $8m over four years to a threatened species fund. The environment minister, Roger Jaensch, said: “The Liberals are absolutely committed to protecting Tasmania’s pristine natural environment.”

The state’s environment groups supported the Greens’ position and were critical of what the major parties offered, particularly their support for continuing – and, in the Liberals’ case, potentially expanding – native forestry. Jenny Weber, campaigns manager with the Bob Brown Foundation, described the Liberals and Labor as “both pro-logging and pro-toxic salmon parties”.

On Sunday, thousands of people joined a protest march through the centre of Hobart calling for a native forest logging ban. The Bob Brown Foundation said it had expected about 500 people, but estimated the crowd that gathered outside state parliament topped 3,000.

Alice Hardinge, state campaign manager for the Wilderness Society, said it was increasingly clear that some politicians were prepared to ignore people who cared about nature, but Tasmanians ultimately expected the state’s “precious places” to be protected.

“What is at stake is worth far more than cheap politics.”

  • Tasmanian election 2024
  • Labor party
  • Liberal party
  • Australian Greens
  • Tasmanian politics

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The Colorado Sun

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What’s Working: Tourism is a major driver of the Colorado economy. But it’s not all organic

tourism environmental levy

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  • Original Reporting

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tourism environmental levy

Tourism is one of the most powerful drivers of Colorado’s economy, creating jobs faster than any other industry. A growing number of visitors continue to spend billions in the state each year, according to the state’s economic development office. This fuels business income and tax revenues that support everything from schools to transportation to municipal services.

But such economic growth isn’t all organic. The state has spent decades dedicating resources to stewardship, said Jill Corbin, deputy director of destination stewardship at the Colorado Tourism Office.

“It’s tried and true that people really care about our lands, cultures and communities. So it was our job as the tourism office to understand how the tourism industry, and the CTO specifically, could wear the hats of being stewards,” she said.

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According to a report released in 2022 by Dean Runyan Associates and Longwoods International, there were an estimated 90 million visitors to the state, a 6.5% increase over 2021. Those visitors spent $26.1 billion in 2022, up from $22.1 billion in 2021.

Visitors spread out across the state, taking in Colorado’s urban and rural attractions. Total spending on day trips was up 23% over 2021 and spending on overnight trips was up 24%. Transportation was second after accommodation for spending, and food and beverage came in a close third (with recreation close behind them). And while shopping was the most popular activity (“Why, in Colorado?” one might ask) sightseeing, hiking and backpacking, visiting landmarks or historic sites, hitting up national parks and checking out wildlife all also made the top 10.

“Those findings showed an exciting opportunity for the tourism industry, and how we think of stewards,” Corbin said.

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Highlighting emerging markets

The new trend in destination stewardship is for places to market and/or manage a destination based on whether it’s “mature” or “emerging.” Colorado has both — Vail may be considered mature, because it has attracted visitors for so long, while San Luis may be considered “emerging,” because word seems to just be getting out about how cool it is.

Corbin says managing for both “is complex. There’s no golden ticket for what it looks like. But the neat thing about working in Colorado and being in Colorado is that there are so many incredible leaders in this space that are out there doing a lot of fantastic work.”

Drawing on that deep well of knowledge, the office has created a destination stewardship strategic planning initiative, which began last May and continues through June. It’s “in collaboration and cooperation with industry thought leaders and stakeholders, state and federal agencies, communities and residents,” Corbin said. The idea was to pair locals in various communities with partners across the state to create the best group to advise the office in “elevating responsible travel and sustainability, championing resilient destinations and advancing inclusiveness and collaboration.”

tourism environmental levy

These leaders form a 27-member council that Adam Ducharme, Leadville-Twin Lakes’ first tourism director, is a part of. Ducharme has seen tourism in his region explode since 2017 , with lodging tax revenue growing from $75,000 that year to close to $400,000 in 2021, he said. And while residents there love that people “discovered” the area, they worry all those visitors are loving it to death.

Ducharme said it’s critical that Leadville comes to the table in the strategic planning discussions, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Leadville’s Latino community makes up 40% of the population with their own thriving economy. Leadville is “incredibly unique,” he added, with its Skijoring and Crystal Carnival Weekend, the many Leadville 100 races , its proximity to fourteeners and other reasons. “But if we don’t protect it” from the crush of visitors, he said, “there will be nothing to promote.”

Tourism directors from La Junta to Boulder have stepped up to help, contributing to the tourism office’s threefold goal of creating a tourism-related glossary of terms, completing the statewide strategic plan and building eight regional destination stewardship strategic plans.

Corbin says a glossary of terms is important “so we’re all speaking the same language and on the same page.” The work is ongoing and the tourism office invites collaboration from communities.

tourism environmental levy

Next up: Statewide visits

During the second phase of outreach — happening now — facilitators within the eight Colorado regions are traveling the state “to get input on the future of tourism in Colorado from new voices, have more focused conversations with targeted groups, and truly meet our partners where they need to be met,” the tourism office says.

The consultations will include a presentation by members of the tourism office and the destination stewardship planning team, followed by discussion of strategies and priorities specific to each region.

The first one, on March 27, is titled “Canyons and Plains” and will be Las Animas. “Pioneering Plains,” in Yuma, is April 2. “Rockies Playground,” in Avon, is April 3. Get the full list of meetings on OEDIT’s website . They wrap up Durango on April 26.

tourism environmental levy

This monthly rural Colorado update comes from Sun reporter Tracy Ross. Check out Tracy’s other stories here and reach out to her if you have a tip, story suggestion or comment about what’s going on outside the Denver metro area. Email Tracy at [email protected]

Colorado unemployment rate rises to 3.5%

The state’s unemployment rate continued to creep up in February, from 3% a year ago, according to the latest monthly federal jobs data. It remains lower than the U.S. rate of 3.9% but it’s also the highest in two years for the state.

That’s likely due to high inflation in the past couple of years alongside the Federal Reserve raising interest rates 11 times since 2022, said Ryan Gedney, senior economist at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, during a news conference Friday.

“And historically, (a higher interest rate) does result in an uptick in the unemployment rate because the point of doing that is to cool the economy,” Gedney said. “Now, we’re still seeing strong job growth and while the unemployment rate is ticking up slightly, it’s still historically low. But I think it’s certainly something to continue to monitor. I wouldn’t be surprised if, by the end of the year, the state’s unemployment rate is approaching 4%.”

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged this week but still intends to cut them up to three times this year.

Colorado’s 3.5% unemployment rate is still relatively low, at least historically, Gedney said. Since 1976, Colorado’s monthly unemployment rate has been higher than 3.5% about 78% percent of the time, he said.

But also important to note: The monthly data will get revised months later, as employers complete surveys to better document how many people in Colorado are working or not. Low response rates post pandemic can create volatile data, which resulted in revising much of 2023’s federal data for Colorado earlier this month.

What also showed up in the preliminary monthly job data is that Colorado’s labor force shrunk by about 1,800 people in February from January. That’s a count of how many Coloradans 16 and older are working or looking for work. We could be getting back to the pre-pandemic trend that showed Colorado’s workforce growing older with more folks retiring. A slowdown in births also means the state continues to rely on migration to reach higher growth rates.

tourism environmental levy

“We’ve seen this weakness or flatness over the past year. It may just be that the labor force has kind of reached its max point,” Gedney said.

That said, the state’s labor force participation rate of 68.1% in February, is still near its highest ever. Coloradans ages 25 to 54 are also more engaged with 87.2% in the workforce in the past year, compared with 85.2% in 2010. In the past decade, only older workers between 55 to 64 have a lower participation rate this year compared with 2014.

“That’s nearly the highest we’ve ever seen in the state,” he said. “I think any flattening or declines in the labor force may be just due to the older population of 55-plus, particularly if you’re 65-plus … who have lower participation rates than the population as a whole anyways.”

What else changed in February:

  • Pueblo continued to have the highest unemployment rate for a metro area. Compared with Colorado’s not seasonally adjusted rate of 4.1%, those metro areas were:

➔ Note: Farewell to Ryan Gedney. The longtime state labor department economist said he’s leaving the agency, hosting his last news conference Friday. The department is also ending the monthly updates. We appreciated his answers to all of our — and readers’ — questions and do hope that the Department of Labor keeps communication open with the public by sharing a deeper analysis of what the latest economic reports mean for Coloradans.

Tamara Chuang

Business/Technology Reporter

tourism environmental levy

  Help grow What’s Working    Forward to a friend or get your own copy !

Sun economy stories you may have missed

tourism environmental levy

➔ Colorado panel finalizes budget plan that boosts K-12, higher education and health care. Here’s what’s in it. Facing a $170 million shortfall at the start of the week, lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee slashed spending and dipped heavily into various state cash funds to balance the budget. >> Read story

➔ Outdoor gear sales dropped in 2023, leaving mountain retailers struggling with high rents, high taxes and too few workers . Overall sales of gear and apparel dropped 3% last year. Independent stores were hit much harder as core outdoor consumers slowed their spending. >> Read story

➔ How to get solar power for your Colorado home — even if your own roof won’t work. If your roof won’t work or you live in an apartment, you can try a community option instead, experts say. >> Read story

tourism environmental levy

➔ Studies show Colorado property taxes are “extremely low.” So why do they feel so high? The disconnect has put Colorado policymakers in a bind as they try to come up with promised reforms to the state’s property tax system. >> Read story

➔ Some young people have become Colorado book collectors without realizing it. Here’s their chance to win $1,000. Contestants in the Kirkpatrick Prize for Colorado often aren’t aware they’ve slipped into collecting. Who knows, even you could be a collector. >> Read story

➔ A Western Slope program is helping older Coloradans maintain independence. National program known as PACE gives Medicaid-eligible seniors an alternative to nursing homes. >> Read story

Other working bits

tourism environmental levy

➔ $4,000 signing bonus to operate a bus. The Regional Transportation District is hosting a job fair Thursday. The Denver-area bus system has struggled to hire enough staff in recent years and has long offered incentives. This time, RTD is offering a $4,000 signing bonus to those who are hired to become a bus operator. That includes paid training and getting a commercial driver license. Pay starts at $25.96 an hour. The RTD job fair is at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday. >> Details

➔ Airbnb remits $94 million in taxes to Colorado. Short-term rental giant Airbnb said it remitted $94 million in tourism to the state of Colorado on behalf of its hosts. That ranked the state as Airbnb’s seventh largest amount of taxes remitted to states in 2023. To date, the company said it has remitted $355 million in Colorado. That hasn’t done much to ease the housing crisis in Colorado’s mountain towns where the lack of adequate worker housing is blamed on rentals being converted to short-term housing. Lawmakers are still considering bills to tax short-term rental owners at a higher rate .

➔ U.S. debuts resource for workers with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Labor put together a guide to help people with disabilities better integrate into all sorts of jobs. Called the Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation Hub, the text-heavy site provides access to funding, policy information plus evidence-based best practices for workers, their families, employers, employment services and state agencies. >> View the Hub

tourism environmental levy

Thanks for sticking with me for this week’s report. Remember to check out The Sun’s daily coverage online . As always, share your 2 cents on how the economy is keeping you down or helping you up at cosun.co/heyww . ~ tamara

Miss a column? Catch up:

  • How Colorado women went from earning 78.1 cents for every $1 paid to a man, to 87 cents — in two years*
  • Why unionizing in Colorado, a modified-right-to-work state, sees limited success
  • State economy grew as Coloradans consumed in 2023. That could change with rising property values.
  • Techstars alumni, mentors consider what’s next for the Boulder/Denver startup community
  • Colorado’s current economy and a peek into the future
  • Colorado ranked as one of the top states for protecting consumer data, but it still gets a C+

What’s Working is a Colorado Sun column about surviving in today’s economy. Email [email protected] with stories, tips or questions. Read the archive , ask a question at cosun.co/heyww and don’t miss the next one by signing up at coloradosun.com/getww .

Support this free newsletter and become a Colorado Sun member: coloradosun.com/join

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Tracy Ross Rural Reporter

Tracy Ross writes about the intersection of people and the natural world, industry, social justice and rural life from the perspective of someone who grew up in rural Idaho, lived in the Alaskan bush, reported in regions from Iran to Ecuador... More by Tracy Ross

Tamara Chuang Business & Technology Reporter

Tamara Chuang writes about Colorado business and the local economy for The Colorado Sun, which she cofounded in 2018 with a mission to make sure quality local journalism is a sustainable business. Her focus on the economy during the pandemic... More by Tamara Chuang

IMAGES

  1. 7 Benefits of Sustainable Tourism & How to Travel Responsibly

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  2. SEYCHELLES TOURISM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY LEVY

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  3. Collection Of Environmental Levy Begins September 1

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  4. Tashi

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  5. Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy takes effect

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  6. Seychelles introduced a tourism environmental sustainability levy

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VIDEO

  1. Implementation of the environmental tyre levy postponed

COMMENTS

  1. Seychelles' Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy Takes Effect as

    The levy will be charged as follows: SCR 25 - Small tourism accommodations; SCR 75 - Medium-size tourism accommodations; SCR 100 - Large tourism accommodations, yachts, and island resorts. The primary aim of the Seychelles' Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is to support environmental conservation and rehabilitation initiatives.

  2. Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy comes into force on 01st

    July 27, 2023. The Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is to come into force on 01st August, 2023. The structure of the levy remains the three-tiered basis, as was previously announced. Establishments will charge and collect this levy from the visitors. The Levy is NOT to be incorporated in the establishments' prices.

  3. PDF [28 Environment Protection Act 270

    Environment Protection Act, 2016 the Minister responsible for the environment makes the following regulations — Citation and commencement 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Environment Protection (Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy) Regulations, 2023 and shall come into operation on the 1 st August, 2023. Administration of ...

  4. Agreed structure of the new Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy

    The Ministry has announced the agreed structure of the Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy, which will come into force on 01st August, 2023. The levy was announced in the 2023 Budget speech delivered by Minister Naadir Hassan, before the National Assembly on 04th November, 2022.

  5. Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy takes effect

    Send to Kindle. ( Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective as of August 1 with a three-tiered approach, said Vice President Ahmed Afif on Thursday. The levy was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in its meeting on Wednesday. Afif told reporters that "The government decided after ...

  6. Seychelles introduced a tourism environmental sustainability levy

    The primary aim of the Seychelles' Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is to support environmental conservation and rehabilitation initiatives. By directing the proceeds from this levy towards the environment, Seychelles seeks to further protect and enhance the natural environment that draws thousands of visitors each year.

  7. PDF Liberty House, P.O Box 313/Victoria/ Mahé, Seychelles Press Release

    The Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy will come into force on 01st August, 2023, as per the structure announced by the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade in a press release issued on 13th July, 2023. The levy will be charged on a three-tiered basis, whereby;

  8. SHTA launches petition to modify new environment levy

    The Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) has launched an online petition, calling on government to revise the newly introduced tourism environmental sustainability levy. The levy, which came into force on August 1, was initially announced during the 2023 budget address, and was given the green light by the cabinet of ministers ...

  9. Seychelles' Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy Takes Effect August 1

    The Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective as of August 1 with a three-tiered approach, said Vice President Ahmed Afif on Thursday. The levy was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in its meeting on Wednesday.

  10. Tourism environment sustainability levy: -Seychelles Nation

    In view that the Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is not new to visitors who travel to the many tourist destinations in the world, Seychelles' new levy will also be accepted in the months ahead. However, the real issue that will affect both the operators and tourists in the short term is the timing and narrow implementation timeline.

  11. Seychelles' Tourism Environmental Levy Not to Be Included in Advertised

    The Seychelles tourism environmental sustainability levy will into force on August 1 as per the structure announced by the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade in July, the Ministry ...

  12. Seychelles Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy Starts

    The levy will be charged as follows: 1. SCR 25 - Small tourism accommodations. 2. SCR 75 - Medium-size tourism accommodations. 3. SCR 100 - Large tourism accommodations, yachts, and island ...

  13. Seychelles Environment Levy: New Tourism Tax Effects Visitors

    As of the 01 August 2023, the Seychelles Government has imposed a daily 'Environment Levy' on all visitors to Seychelles. This new 'tourism tax,' as it has been nicknamed, aims to raise funds to mitigate the environmental impact that the rising tourism sector has on the country. For establishments with 1 to 24 rooms, the rate stands at SCR25 ...

  14. Seychelles' Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy Takes Effect

    Seychelles News Agency (Victoria) The Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective as of August 1 with a three-tiered approach, said Vice President Ahmed Afif on ...

  15. Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy takes effect

    (Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective as of August 1 with a three-tiered approach, said Vice President Ahmed Afif on Thursday. The levy was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in its meeting on Wednesday. Afif told reporters that "The government decided after several discussions with all parties

  16. Seychelles Introduce Tourism Environmental Levy

    If you would like more information please contact Charlotte Chilcott or Peter McLeod or call us on +44 1980 847389. Alternatively click HERE if you would like us to contact you. Effective 1st August 2023, the Seychelles Government is implementing a new Environmental Sustainability Levy.

  17. Seychelles Implements Environmental Sustainability Levy

    The new tourism environmental sustainability levy may foster a sense of collective responsibility. Tourists are contributing to the preservation of Seychelles' unique and fragile natural environment with this levy. By making this investment, Seychelles endeavors to set an example in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.

  18. Seychelles Introduces Environmental Sustainability Levy

    The Seychelles Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, and Trade has announced the entry into force of the Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy on 1 August 2023. The levy, which was first announced as part of the 2023 Budget, applies as follows: SCR 25 per person per night for small tourism accommodations (1-24 rooms);

  19. Download

    Advance Ruling Origin Form. Advance Ruling Tariff Form. Advance Ruling Binding Valuation Information Form. Application for Direct Delivery (special release) Application for extension for Temporary Importation. Application for Movement of Goods Prior to Lodgement of Bill of Entry. Application for Pre-payment Account.

  20. Bali police to start checking foreign tourist levy vouchers at holiday

    Pre-pandemic, Bali saw more than 16 million international visitors in 2019, meaning the province could add about $240 million dollars more to it's tourism revenue annually.

  21. 'Tourists ask a lot of questions': Great Barrier Reef guides face up to

    But as the impact of global heating on the reef started to make global headlines in 2016 and 2017, tensions in the tourism industry started to emerge. One tourism head called stories of ...

  22. Seychelles Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy in Effect

    The Tourism Department is confident that the Seychelles' Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy will serve to further enrich the experiences of all who set foot on our beloved shores.

  23. How badly do Tasmanians want to protect nature? The state election may

    On Friday, the Greens MP Vica Bayley led a group of journalists, tourism operators and Indigenous leaders that flew over the path of the South Coast track, a bushwalking trail through 85km of ...

  24. Tourism is major driver of Colorado economy. Here's why

    These leaders form a 27-member council that Adam Ducharme, Leadville-Twin Lakes' first tourism director, is a part of. Ducharme has seen tourism in his region explode since 2017, with lodging tax revenue growing from $75,000 that year to close to $400,000 in 2021, he said. And while residents there love that people "discovered" the area ...