1. MaRa – the hottest lobbying issues Hotel Hilton Strand, Helsinki Timo Lappi

2. 1. Taxation The VAT of meals and non-alcoholic drinks went down from 22 to 13 percent the 1 st of July, 2010 The level of VAT's was under severe pressure in the parliamentary election last spring  the level of VAT's remained unchanged (23 % for alcoholic drinks, 13 % for meals and non-alcoholic drinks and 9 % for example for accommodation, amusement parks, festivals and skiing lifts) Taxation is one of the key issue between heavy industry and commerce and tourism- and restaurant sectors

3. 3 2. Grey economy MaRa has fighted against grey economy since 1998 The amount in our sector is about 8 – 10 % of turnover of accommodation and restaurant sectors There is a campaign against grey economy There is a working group in the Ministry of Employment and the Economy MaRa and Service Union United Pam are the sole members plus the ministry By the end of this year the working group will draw a proposal how to reduce the black economy in accommodation and restaurant sectors

4. 4 3. Alcohol legislation The amount of alcohol consumed in restaurants has decreased from 21 % to 11 % in twenty years from the amount of all alcohol consumed in Finland In twenty years 140 million litres of beer have disappeared from restaurants The overall alcohol consumption in Finland has increased a lot  biggest winner is Estonia  the Finns import 1,5 times more alcohol from Estonia than they consume in all restaurants in Finland The alcohol authorities have tightened the control of restaurants significantly

5. 5 3. Alcohol legislation There will be a renewal of alcohol legislation in Finland in this parliamentary season There will be high pressure in opening hours and serving alcohol of such a places where youngsters are present (for example in amusement parks and spas)

6. 6 4. Visa requirement of Russians The tourism from Russia has increased rapidly and the forecast in the future is splendid Nowadays there are about 1,3 million overnights in Finnish accommodation establishments  over 20 percent increase this year Huge investments for Russian tourists  last week opened the biggest spa in Nordic countries in town Lappeenranta, investment of 100 million euro If the Visa requirement will be removed, the amount of Russian tourists will boost The removal of Visa is a question between the EU and Russia.