So, are tourists paying for the environment or not? | Daniel Espinosa

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The Majorca Hoteliers Federation's appeal for judicial review of the tourist tax is being considered by the Balearic High Court. In a communication sent to the court, the government acknowledges that the tax is not an ecological or environmental tax but one to raise additional resources for the financing of regional policies.

The government accepts that the tax cannot be considered to be environmental, even if revenue is destined to go to a fund to improve tourism activity and environmental protection.

It states that the decision to obtain revenue from stays in tourist establishments is the responsibility of the tax authority and that this tax-raising does not discriminate between residents and non-residents. The government adds that the tax is a "neutral and innocuous" measure that has not created a financial barrier for businesses or tourists. It points to an increase in the number of tourists since the tax was introduced on 1 July last year.