Røe Isaksen about controversial commissions in tourism: to get an overview of "Syden methods" – Macro and politics

Is there a widespread phenomenon in Norwegian tourism that shops and restaurants pay guides to bring penguin tourists to their establishments? And that those who do not pay pass?

As E24 announced on Tuesday, Geir Pollestad, a member of the Center party, wrote to the minister asking him if he was planning to do something about what the former described as " Syden's methods we do not want in Norway ".

– Clients proposed for payment

The reason is that several media outlets, including Dagens Næringsliv, reported this summer shops that had been passed by large tour groups because they were unwilling to pay.

A merchant from Bryggen in Bergen told Bergensavisen that customers had been offered to him as a payment.

Geir Pollestad, in Sp, now needs legislation before the next tourist season. The Minister of Industry says that he will investigate the extent of the problem before doing anything.

"I understand that businessmen do not want to pay extra money for tourists to come in, but if it's illegal, I'm more uncertain," says Røe Isaksen at E24.

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"The first thing to do is to give us a picture of the spread and the way it happens in practice, I am fundamentally open to changing the regulation, but we can not introduce a ban on the basis of DN, "said the minister.

"We need to get a review of the current regulations, as well as a legal assessment of possible regulatory changes.

– Not illegal nowadays

Røe Isaksen, who is also minister of competition, will ask the competition department of the ministry to assess the legality under the current regulations.

"It's a good question," says Geir Pollestad, "it's so good that Ove Trellevik wrote it to the Supreme Court two months ago," he said – referring to the party colleague who had addressed the issue in written questions in September.

"Ove picked it up after a meeting in Bergen, where a businessman from Sogn og Fjordane took up the subject and wondered if it was illegal today, with the regulations in force. Is not fundamentally, but it can be designed to be in a gray area.

Kristin Krohn Devold of NHO Reiseliv told E24 that there is a difference between commissions between two companies and commissions paid to individuals.

– That's precisely the problem. There are cases where this is obvious is For example, Illegal, money is under the table, for example, says Røe Isaksen – and points out that in these cases rules are already applicable.

"But there may be gray areas: A tour operator who runs a market with a restaurant and stops regularly and where the market is negotiated in open session is a completely different question from where individual guides agree to pay directly.

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Do not travel before summer

– How should you have an overview of the problem?

– The tax administration probably does not determine the origin of this money, it is difficult to get an overview in detail. Therefore, we need to contact the business organizations and talk to their member companies to understand the scope, as well as to obtain information from academic environments – NHH has already worked on this issue.

– What sanctions and what changes can you introduce?

"It's too early to say anything about it.

– Pollestad will have changes before the next tourist season. Much of the work of the tourism industry before the summer already begins now?

– As always, according to the instructions of the survey, proceed correctly. Legislative and regulatory changes that the Storting will process and implement are not possible until summer. But it is possible that we can obtain more information and that we can say more about the situation compared to the regulation in force during the next season.