It has been a continually controversial topic since it was reintroduced, but the tourist tax or, to give it its official name, the tax for sustainable tourism, is going to double today. The rates will remain in place for all holidaymakers over the age of 16 until 31 October.
Since the tourist tax was first introduced by a former left-wing coalition government, there have without a doubt been reasons for reintroducing the levy, but is has come at a price, with holidaymakers, many who have come to Majorca, no longer returning and looking for cheaper destinations instead.
Tourism sustainability has become the buzzword not just here in the Balearics but across the world and with a lack of sufficient funding to protect the local ecosystem, environment, natural resources, etc., the Balearic government claims that it was given no option but to introduce the tax to help fund ecological projects as well as encourage holidaymakers to visit out of season.
Many opponents have accused the government of being mad and turning tourists away, sending out a message that they are not wanted, but there is method behind the so-called madness. With the Balearic population nearly tripling during peak season, but only local taxes to pay for the upkeep of the islands, extra funding is not only needed in the short to mid-term but also in the long-term.
The Balearic government considers that the tourist tax, of which 27 similar levies are paid across the EU - Britons in fact pay the largest in Europe in the form of the Air Passenger Duty to fly out of the country, not to mention to long-haul destinations - is a small contribution to pay to ensure a sustainable future for the Balearics so that holidaymakers and residents can continue to enjoy the region for many years to come.
In the mid to low season, the tourist tax is cut by 50 per cent, and this summer will be the first time that cruise passengers are going to be charged the tourist tax, much to the anger of central government in Madrid which controls port movements and activities.
Madrid has however insisted that on top of the tax, ten per cent VAT is changed so that it at least gets something out of the funds raised for the Balearics.
The rates for the tourist tax listed here
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OK, so answer me this, my friend and his family visit their mum and dad, Majorcan residents, 5 or 6 times a year. Are they tourists? Well, they’re not on a business trip and they don’t work here, so how are they charged tourist tax? Secondly, I have another friend who regularly visits Majorca for business and stays in a hotel. Does he get charged tax, despite the fact that he is not a tourist? The mind boggles!
So if you and the Wife take your 2 kids aged 16 and 17 to a 4 Star Hotel expect to pay £200 more. Go to the Costa Del Sol and you do not pay?
Here's an up to date calculator to see what you will have to pay.... https://www.saposoft.com/en/citsb/#online
Hi Barbara. What you have to pay pr. Day depends on how many Stars your hotel have, i believe its like this. 2-3 Stars, 0,50 - 4 Stars 3-4 euro pr. Person pr Day, and 5 Stars around 5 euro pr. Person pr. Day, so you see, it all depends. And this is plus ecotax on top of that. For us as a family and for two week holliday it was around 31-35 euro that we had to pay when we checked out.
I think the thing that makes me angry about this tax is that I wouldn't mind paying if i thought the money was being spent prudently. Politicians, particularly left wing, pro republican politicians spend money on things that legally they shouldn't even be spending money on (just look at what's been happening in Barcelona!), as well as feathering their own nests by hiding funds in foreign accounts. Do I trust the local government of Mallorca to use the taxes collected for the greater good of the tourists and majority of citizens in Mallorca? Not in the slightest!
Depends on your abode but between 2 and 4 Euros per night So for two that's between 56 Euros and 112 Euros by my humble reckoning! See previous article? So could a hundred quid to your bill.
Can anyone confirm how much this tax will cost for a two week holiday in August for two people?
The tourist tax will severely affect the family market - Cala Bona, Cala Millor and Cala D'Or, I predict will struggle in three years time as each year the affect of the tourist tax will add to a family of 4's holiday.Labour always increase taxes due to never managing budgets correctly and not having entrepreneurial attitudes.