Proposed tourist fee may breach EEA rules

AI Summary

Iceland's government is considering a tourist fee for nature and infrastructure, but a local mayor says it could violate European Economic Area rules if it discriminates between visitors and residents. He argues that a lawful fee would have to apply to Icelanders as well.

"If the government intends to introduce a nature and infrastructure fee, it is clear that for such a fee to be lawful, it must be non-discriminatory. Consequently, everyone would have to pay it, including Icelanders," says Haraldur Þór Jónsson, mayor of Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur, in an interview with Morgunblaðið.