The man from IFTO says “no” to the tourist tax

“Every pound and deutschmark counts,” said the Chairman of the International Federation of Tour Operators, Martin Brackenbury, yesterday, as he explained why the proposed tourist tax could seriously damage the Balearic tourist industry. Brackenbury, in Palma for a meeting with the Balearic Minister for Tourism about the illegal accomodation on offer in the market, said yesterday that, while IFTO supports and understands the need to limit tourism and protect the environment, introducing a tourist tax is not the answer. “The tourist tax is the wrong remedy; the objectives can be achieved in other ways,” he said. Brackenbury praised the efforts which have already been taken to protect the environment in the Balearics over the past five years. “This is a region doing much better than others, where 33 per cent of land is protected, well above the European average of just six per cent.” Brackenbury believes that the answer lies with central government providing more funding for the purchase of national parks and land which can be paid off over a long period of time, hoteliers changing their prices and quality improvement plans, which he says have already proved a great help for the islands.