Tourist tax in the Balearic Islands could be increased to £13 a day in the peak summer months under new proposals.
The action was suggested by the CCOO (Workers’ Commissions Union) at a conference on Thursday, 23 October. The union wants to see the islands’ Sustainable Tourism Tax increased to €15 (£13) per day in July and August, when Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca are under higher pressure due to the influx of tourists.
“This is not an increase aimed at raising revenue, but rather a deterrent, so that the Balearic Islands send a clear message to the world that there is no room for more people here during the high season,” said Jose Luis Garcia, the general secretary of CCOO, Balearic newspaper Ultima Hora reported.
While the union admits that a tax rise might not prevent high numbers of tourists from visiting, the additional revenue could be allocated to improving workplace welfare, vocational training and housing.
The highest rate of visitor tax is currently €4 (£3.49), with a lower rate charged to those staying in less expensive hotels or hostels. The proposal comes only a day after the Balearic parliament rejected the consideration of a bill to double the tax to €8 (£7) at its highest rate..
The CCOO also called for a temporary pause on the creation of new tourist accommodation, instead suggesting the gradual replacement of outdated facilities. “To reduce summer overcrowding, it’s not enough to curb demand; we must also act on supply,” Mr Garcia added.
A similar policy has just been implemented in Palma de Mallorca, after the city enforced a ban on any new tourist rentals being created.
The CCOO said that housing is a key issue across the islands, and has called for a limit to be imposed on rental prices, and the creation of a public housing portfolio of 40,000 homes.
The portfolio would comprise buildings seized from banks or large-scale property owners, empty properties and new builds, financed by the tourist tax revenue and a 2 per cent increase in the regional housing budget.
“In Spain, we built more housing than France and Germany combined until the real-estate bubble burst, with the consequences we all know. More than building, it’s about limiting prices, and until we do that, we won’t reverse the situation,” Mr Garcia said.
Alongside housing, the union is also worried about the environmental state of the islands, and has suggested a reduction in the number of cruise ships along with the implementation of a limit on the frequency of flights during the high season, while increasing them in the low season to try to even out tourist numbers.
CCOO head of economy Maria Angels Aguilo said at the conference: “It is essential to be able to influence the number of arriving tourists and their distribution throughout the year.”
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