Italian Tourism Minister speaks out against tourist tax in Palma

The Italian Minister for Tourism, Pier Giorgio Tugni has been in Majorca for just 48 hours but yesterday he was already talking about the island's great beauty, tourism industry, food and high level of professionalism in the hotel sector, but while he agrees that steps have to be taken to protect the environment, he does not agree that the best way to raise funds is via a tourist tax. He believes that a tourist tax is unfair, especially the Balearic model which will only apply to tourists staying in hotels. He said that the Italians started studying the Balearic idea a year ago and that there were a number of negative opinions right from the start. The Italian Minister said that if a tourist tax is to be introduced, then everybody will have to made to pay the levy, otherwise it will not work and damage the region's industry.