Both foreign tourists arriving in Tajikistan and Tajik nationals traveling abroad will pay state duty. Members of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have endorsed amendments proposed by the government to the country’s law on other mandatory payments to the budget.
A regular sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on April 26.
Presenting the amendments to lawmakers, the Minister of Finance Fayziddin Qahhorzoda noted that foreign tourists visiting Tajikistan as well as Tajik nationals traveling abroad for tourism purposes and Tajik nationals performing Hajj will pay a state duty.
According to him, veterans of World War II, Chernobyl liquidators (the civil and military personnel who were called upon to deal with consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster), persons with Groups I and II disability, children under 16 and diplomats are exempted from payment of this duty.
Qahhorzoda noted that more than 145 tourist companies now operate in Tajikistan and more than one million foreign tourists visited the country last year.
The minister further added that the rate of tourist duty for foreign nationals and Tajiks traveling abroad will be determined by the government.
Meanwhile, an official source at the government told Asia-Plus on the basis of anonymity that foreign tourists arriving in Tajikistan though tourist companies and Tajik nationals traveling abroad through tourist companies will pay state duty at the rate of 1.00 U.S. dollar per day.
Tajik nationals performing Hajj will pay additional 50.00 U.S. dollars as state duty, the source said.
