reprinted from:
News in transit: Balearics
Copyright 2003
Express Newspapers Majorca and the other Balearic islands have hiked their controversial "eco-tax" despite protests from Spain's central government. The so-called "tourist tax" was brought in last May, and during its first eight months the islands saw visitor numbers drop by 10 per cent. Under the scheme tourists are charged up to two euros per person per night. The proceeds are used to improve tourist facilities and agriculture. The average cost to a family of four on a two-week holiday will be just over £70. From the start of this month the Balearics' regional government has added a further 2.7 per cent in line with inflation, prompting bitter criticism from all sectors of the holiday market. Juan Jose Guemes, Spain's secretary general for tourism, said the Balearic government was making the same mistake again. "It is a move in the completely opposite direction to the one the government should be working in. They need to change strategy and adopt policies to revive and boost tourism." Balearics tourism office spokesman Juan Vallespir, however, claimed that the majority of tourists and foreigners in the Balearics were in favour of the tax, and that the drop in visitor numbers was down to economic problems in Europe and post-September 11 worries. Frances Tuke, a spokeswoman for the Association of British Tour Operators, which criticised the introduction of the tax, said they were surprised to see such a quick increase. "At a time when economic worries and the threat of war are already putting people off booking holidays, they hardly need an extra deterrent, " she said. Visitor figures in the Balearics last year were down by 900,000, creating a deficit of more than £800 million. And this week the Mallorca Hoteliers' Association announced that only 28 hotels out of the 100-plus on Playa de Palma have remained open during the winter season. Joan Bauza, Palma's deputy mayor, said on Wednesday that this winter was the "worst in history" for visitors but added that there had been few complaints about the tax from tour operators or tourists. Most people accepted it would help improve the islands for visitors, he said. But Juan Jose Guemes dismissed these claims. "The majority of international experts and
the business community are calling for the tax to be scrapped, especially
now the drop in tourism it has provoked is leading to a deterioration of the
Balearic economy, " he said. |
