Munich (dpa / lby) - The controversial accommodation tax in Munich is expected to be postponed. The two largest factions in the city council, Green and Pink List as well as CSU and Free Voters, want to decide this on Tuesday in the finance committee, as they announced. Together, the two factions have a majority in the city council plenum and in the finance committee. The "Bild" newspaper had previously reported on it.
The plans of the city treasury for the bed tax became known a few days ago and are met with great rejection from the hospitality industry and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, among others. The plan called for a five percent tax on the price of services directly related to the overnight stay from September 2023. Other services such as breakfast or wellness packages should be excluded, as should underage guests.
However, the tax is not off the table: the two factions criticize in particular that the hospitality industry was not sufficiently consulted. The CSU and Free Voters say: "Should the bed tax come, a significant part of the tax revenue must be used to promote Munich as a tourist location." The Green and Pink Lists declare that they fundamentally support the proposal for such a tax.
Thomas Geppert, state manager of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said: "An adjournment is the minimum. It would be better to say goodbye to the idea altogether." An overnight tax harms tourism. "You use it to saw the branch you're sitting on."
