Zakopane is introducing a new local fee collection system. Ends the era of paper receipts

In Zakopane, the implementation of an IT system for collecting local fees from tourists and keeping electronic records of stays begins. This is the end of the paper receipt books known since the 1990s.

As emphasized by the mayor of Zakopane, Łukasz Filipowicz, the new system is intended to facilitate the work of entrepreneurs running accommodation facilities and standardize the settlement rules in the city. The Tatra Chamber of Commerce (TIG), however, points out that the largest hotels already use their own electronic systems for calculating local fees, and the introduction of a new solution may further complicate their operation.

– All entrepreneurs – accommodation providers, hoteliers, guesthouse owners – will have to register in the system. We anticipate a six-month transition period during which paper and electronic systems will operate in parallel, the mayor said.

He added that the local fee for tourists is not increasing and is still PLN 2 per person per day of stay near Giewont.

Filipowicz informed that in 2024, the city received PLN 5.2 million from the local fee, and last year about PLN 6 million. He estimates that after the system is fully implemented, city revenues may increase up to approx. PLN 10 million per year. The annual cost of operating the system is approximately PLN 30,000. PLN, while the maintenance and service of paper receipts costs approximately PLN 14,000. PLN, excluding the employment of an official responsible for this task.

The Travelhost system is intended to ensure automatic calculation of the local tax due and generation of reports submitted to the office. It enables online operation from a computer, tablet or phone, which eliminates the need to keep paper records and reduces errors resulting from manual calculations.

The mayor emphasized that an active account in the system will enable entrepreneurs to update the data of accommodation facilities, which will be important in the context of the planned obligation to have an individual identification number of the facility.

Karol Wagner from TIG points out that in large hotels the local fee is calculated automatically at the reception level – after the guest checks in, the system calculates the amount due, and at the end of the month the hotel generates a collective report and transfers it to the office's account. – Thanks to this, the process is quick, error-free and does not require manual completion of receipts – emphasized Wagner. In his opinion, Travelhost will rather facilitate the functioning of smaller accommodation providers and small entrepreneurs.

“Nothing will change for tourists. The City Hall is planning benefits for guests, e.g. discounts to thermal baths or restaurants, which have not yet been launched. Without the participation of entrepreneurs, such a system will not succeed, because they are the ones who offer discounts and do not receive any tax relief from the City Hall in return,” Wagner said.

The City Hall encourages you to register in the system now to facilitate the implementation process and use of the platform. (PAP)

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