Viewpoint

Despite their outward appearance of calm there is a deep concern within the local government. The reason for their sleepless nights is the tourist tax, their star policy, and I must say, their only real policy at the moment. The tax is the thread which keeps the five party coalition of nationalists and left-wing parties together. But there is a major problem. There has been a slump in holiday bookings in Germany. A major fall in German tourism this summer will have a nasty effect on the local economy. The Germans are anti-tourist tax, hence why the minister for tourism was dispatched to Germany this week to try and win support for the controversial levy. He was quite successful and was praised by some German political parties. But there still does not appear to be a revival in sales. Presently, public opinion is behind the tax, but any drop in tourism will make many people have a re-think. The local government knows this, hence their concern.