Tourism demands the right to continue operating tours and activities that include transportation of guests and equipment without the requirements of a taxi or taxi driver.

Tourism demands that: 
1) Tourism has their own industry, separate from Transportation.  
2) Replace the drosjeløyve requirements for all tourism companies for a løyve that is for tourism.
There can be a different commercial car requirement and guide competencies, if deemed necessary, one that is for tour operators. 
3) In the short term: Remove the taxi license competency requirement altogether for our tourism employees that drive paying guests and equipment for tourism purposes.  

Any other solution would be a subpar compromise that still inhibits tourism's ability to operate properly, for our employees to work and for tourism companies to follow the vision set out by Innovation Norway.

Background to the problem

In 2020 it was decided that all tourism companies are required to have their vehicles (under 9 seats) registered with a drosjeløyve (taxi permit for vehicle). By making this policy, our vehicles are now classified as Taxi's. However, tourism companies are not taxis, do not compete with taxis and their entire operations are not like taxis or have the same industry needs as the taxis. Because tourism operators' vehicles are now "taxis", for employees (tour guides) to drive the vehicle the tour guide is required to become a taxi driver and pass the taxi theory and driving tests. Once they do this, they can get a kjøreseddel and begin working. Without knowledge of how this industry works, this might seem reasonable. Outlined below is why it is unreasonable, unattainable by the industry's employees and detrimental to tourism.  

Why the problem needs to be fixed

- Tour guides fall under the labour category of seasonal workers. Due to the nature of the industry and the literal seasons, the guide's contracts are temporary and seasonal. Seasonal employees are seasonal workers by choice and have unique needs that differ from regular employees. Seasonal workers are attracted by unique and challenging work in exotic places, they crave experience, variety, and change. In real terms, tourism employees that chose to be guides, do not work in their home country. The Norwegian seasonal workers are in Spain, Canada, Australia, Thailand or somewhere else. Tour operators will not find replacement human resources in the Norwegian labour market to fill the gaps. There is ample validated research out there to substantiate this. Tour guides will simply not apply for work in Norway, they’ll simply chose to go to a country where they can do the same job, but not face a discriminating process to be allowed to drive. 

- The taxi test at Statensvegvesen is only in Norwegian (and B2 is a minimum requirement). Seasonal workers do not speak Norwegian and are unable to pass this exam. This prevents them from doing their job as they have already been doing either in Norway or elsewhere in the world. Tour guide is not a protected title, and speaking Norwegian is not a relevant or required skill needed to execute their tasks as a tour guide.  
The time frame to learn Norwegian, complete both the theory and practical taxi driving exams is too long for these employees and too long for the companies relying on hiring these employees. The waiting time to do these exams is months, and the seasonal worker is unable to wait, unemployed, for this slow processing and availability.  

- The kjøreseddel requirements are unattainable, companies will be unable to hire new guides for future seasons. Companies are being incentivised to either chose to operate illegally or to abandon their successful and profitable business models. This means no longer offering small group experiences that have been successfully sold and safely operated for many years. 

- Innovation Norway has been clear with their vision for economically sustainable tourism in Norway. Promoting small and medium-sized companies to offer ecologically sustainable and socially responsible tours and experiences to international travellers. The new kjøreseddel requirements directly contradict Innovation Norway’s vision and promote big buses and mass tourism models – as this will be the only way to operate as hiring guides with taxi licences will be extremely challenging.  

Why the demands above will directly and immediately resolve the problem 

Tourism in Norway has operated successfully for many years without these requirements. The above mentioned problems did not exist prior to the new kjøreseddel requirements for the drosjeløyve coming into effect. Now these requirements are coming into effect and companies are reducing hiring and capacity as much as 50%. Guides with years of experience in Norway, returning season after season, are leaving Norway for other tourism positions where they can continue to do the same job, but without a discriminatory process. This means the experienced industry professionals are leaving Norway and large holes in the labour market are left.  

Creating an exemption to the taxi licence requirement for guides that work exclusively for tour operators will allow the continuation of tour operators successful and profitable businesses, allow tour operators to continue to offer tours that fit the vision that Innovation Norway has for Norway and to allow talented and skilled guides to continue their seasonal employment here, season after season.