Tourist tax

Podemos: tourist tax is a fraud on the citizenship

The PP's Marga Prohens pays careful attention to words of Podemos leader, Alberto Jarabo.

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporterPalma08/02/2016 00:00

Podemos parliamentary spokesperson, Laura Camargo, yesterday branded the application of the tourist tax a fraud on the citizenship, adding that the party had not expected that there would be a block placed by the government in not accepting amendments to the tax's legislation that have been presented by Podemos. She told a press conference that Podemos had not believed that they would be at the situation they currently are with the law and that if there were a vote right now, it would not be a vote for an eco-tax.

Podemos has been demanding that tourist tax revenue should be used only for the environment, while it is one only element of the five key areas of application envisaged under the draft law. Podemos has also been arguing for a system of revenue distribution that has brought it into dispute with the government as it appears discriminatory towards Majorca.

The Partido Popular's Marga Prohens, in responding to Camargo's fraud claim, suggested that Camargo should support the PP's amendment to the whole of the bill. Another PP parliamentary deputy, Alvaro Gijón, said that there had been a meeting with Podemos but now expects that there could be further contact with the aim of gaining some months so that the tax is as consensual as possible.

Gijón explained that the PP's amendment to the whole bill was based on the fact that the tax is going to be harmful and will mean that the same mistakes as twelve years ago are committed (the old eco-tax was introduced in 2002). He added that the tourist tax would also make negotiations on lowering airport charges and the tourist rate of IVA (VAT) more difficult.

The PP has also proposed various partial amendments, one of these being that the tax is not introduced until 2017. Gijón stressed that it shouldn't be introduced while there remains the issue of holiday rentals, which represent 40% of tourist accommodation. The PP also wants the tax to not be charged in the winter season and for there to be a 50% discount in the lower months of the main season because of the variance between different resorts on the islands.

Further amendments that the PP wants to see would be a reduction in what residents would have to pay in the second year and investment of tax revenue that would be proportional and based on territories (i.e. the different islands). In this respect, the PP would like decisions on projects to be financed by the tax revenue to include input from the public and associations. Furthermore, the party wants there to be an external study in the fourth year of the tax to assess how the tax has affected demand, investment and jobs. It also believes that the tax burden on residents should be reduced in the event that there is an increase to tourist tax collection.

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2 comments

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Daryn | over 9 years ago

Year after year fight prices rise considerably more than the Spanish mainland and now the government wants to introduce a tourist tax. Does the Balearic government not want any visitors any more. Members of www.majorcaforum.com are constantly fed up with these prices hikes, we are sick and tired of seeing mugging prostitutes on the streets, we hate being asked if we want to buy drugs when out and about on a night out yet the government seems to want to punish the many visitors that actually contribute to the Island already by spending their hard earned saving but seeing no improvements to safety.I think its about time the government listened to its many visitors and local business people. Introducing this tax is a nail in the coffin. I have seen over the years many friends stop visiting the Island and going else where.twelve of us used to visit every October this has reduced down to just two of us now and all because its alot cheaper to visit other holiday destinations.

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Steve Riches | over 9 years ago

So Podemos would not vote for an Eco. Tax, the above seems to say. The other day they were reported as saying the tax should apply to all winter bookings too. Then, they also seem to be complaining that they have been blocked from having their amendments accepted. Then within a few sentences they seem to demand that the tax only be used for ecological use. This article is not even as clear as mud. The whole Tourist Tax mess is a blight on all concerned.

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