Scrap the tax

It's Madrid not Barcelona. It's 10% not 20% and tourists pay at the beginning of their stay not the end. Apart from that, yup should be scrapped, at least for this year. But if Madrid don't increase the Balearic budget then the shortfall has to be made up. Unfortunately the Govt here sees the tourist as the easy way to do this whilst completely ignoring the stupendous amount of financial waste it oversees in 50 thousand plus civil servants employed here with an incredible amount of role and work duplication. Streamlining the Govt here would save more than the tourist tax collects, but the gravy train has kept on rolling, until now....

I read with interest comments and proposals to temporarily suspend the tourist tax, now people have long memories, this tax was introduced in July 2016 after Sharm El-Sheikh (Oct 2015) and Tunisia(June 2015) tourist attacks when tourists were looking for safer options closer to home.Tourists were told the tax was to improve the infrastructure for tourists and islanders alike, however, it now seems that it is now being used to fill the black holes in the islands budget.It has been so successful that Barcelona want their 20% of the action, hence, why should Barcelona increase the budget to the islands when they are doing alright at the moment and Barcelona are taking their cut.Not satisfied with increased VAT returns from tourists spending in shops, restaurants, bars etc, plus the large contribution by tourists using public transport, there now will be a large shortfall.Less employment, less spending in shops, restaurants, bars, less transport trips, so where is the money going to come from to support the people and tourist industry during this pandemic, perhaps the tourist tax itself.If the island wants tourists the tax should be scrapped altogether, the islands have shown their own greed by increasing the tax the following year, how does the tourist feel having come to the island frequented many sites, restaurants, bars and on checking out of the hotel is presented with an invoice for £36 (€41.4).Majorca is slowly pricing itself out of the tourist market, last year it was eleventh in a holiday cost barometer, it has now been replaced by Nice(France) with Corfu, Croatia and Sorrento leaping into the top ten destinations.

IF SOME OF THE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM TAX (100 MILLION EUROS LAST SEASON) WAS USED TO REPAIR BEACHES AND REPLACE LOST SAND, I COULD UNDERSTAND AND BACK IT....BUT ITS NOT....IS SOME ONE GETTING VERY RICH ON THESE EASY PICKINGS.?

Yes the tax needs scrapping, but hotels above 3 star should also be having free safes in bedrooms as is mostly the case in most hotels on the mainland. The hotel we visit in Palma Nova is dearer than a similar grade hotel on the mainland and the tourist tax and cost of a safe adds over £100 to the cost of a 10 night stay. For this reason we have not booked for next year, for the first time since 2000 and will look to go on the Spanish mainland. We prefer Majorca but the island is becoming too expensive hotel and tax wise, and will do itself no favours with the all inclusive changes.

The tourist tax was always a bad idea, but although getting rid of it would be a step in the right direction, I'm afraid that I don't think the fact that a holiday would be a few quid cheaper is going to rescue this season. It's going to be a very tough time for a lot of people.

Totaly Agree your comment. No temperature checks at the Airport and Ports on Passengers arriving into Mallorca must be a PRIORITY NOW. Otherwise there will be a greater Pandemic on this small Island. Many businesses will go Bankrupt and Hotels Close Down.