BRITS heading to Spain could soon face a hike in their holiday costs.
Plans are underway to hike charges for overnight tourists staying on one of the Balearic Islands by 200 per cent, under new measures being proposed by its regional government.
Plans are underway to increase charges for overnight tourists staying on one of the Balearic Islands[/caption]
If the plans are approved by the regional government, tourist charges could rise by as much as 200 per cent[/caption]
The new measures, which are currently awaiting approval, could see tourist charges increase by at least 66 per cent.
Brits planning to holiday in Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera in the summer will be some of the hardest hit, with maximum overnight tourist charges rising from €4 (£3.36) to €6 (£5.04) per person per night.
Rates will vary depending on the quality of accommodation with holidaymakers staying in super four and five-star hotels in June, July and August paying the most.
If the plans are approved, holidaymakers staying in four and five-star hotels will pay €42 (£35.31) per person per week, a rise of €14 (£11.77), which would cost a family of four with children over the age of 16 £141.24 a week.
Cruise ship passengers will be the hardest hit, with overnight charges increasing by 200 per cent from €2 (£1.68) to up to €6 (£5.04) per person per night.
However, it’s good news for tourists who head to the Balearics in January and February, with overnight charges set to be scrapped.
This is in a bid to entice holidaymakers to visit the popular Spanish islands during the low season.
The regional government is also considering imposing an emissions tax on tourist vehicles, including a charge on rental cars.
Money raised by the fee will be invested back into public transport on the island.
Plans to introduce new controls on tourist accommodation are also being discussed.
These new plans could see fines of up to €500,000 for illegal holiday rentals, as well as a ban on new holiday rental flats within residential apartment buildings.
While the plans are still seeking approval, Jaume Bauzá, tourism minister in the conservative People’s Party Balearic government, previously said: “The islands have reached their limit.”
The news comes after Majorca put plans in place to introduce a residents-only zone, affecting tourists.
Sóller, a town on the island, has introduced a ‘residents only’ zone where no hire cars are allowed through its town centre, unless they are registered by locals.
Holidaymakers can still drive to Sóller but will need to park and walk through the town instead.
While the new rules won’t affect Brits holidaying on the island, tourists will need to research about the low emission zone as failure to adhere could result in a fine.
Because of the lack of housing in some Spanish cities, laws have been introduced to stop any more holiday homes from being registered.
Meanwhile, Malaga has introduced a law stopping any more new holiday rentals for the next three years across.
In the city of Barcelona, holiday flats have been completely banned with it fully coming into place by 2029.
Other destinations with tourists taxes
THESE popular holiday spots either have a tourist tax in place, or are introducing one soon.
Greece
Holidaymakers heading to Greece in the near future could be hit with a tourist tax, with plans for the levy outlined by the government earlier this year.
Holidaymakers traveling to the popular holiday destination during the high season (from March to October) will face an additional tax on overnight stays.
Just like the previous tax, the rate will vary depending on the type of accommodation tourists have booked, and it will range from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.45) per night.
The new tax will be added to the country’s existing accommodation tax, resulting in higher charges.
Tenerife
Visitors to the Canary Island will be hit with a new tourist tax after locals demanded a freeze on holidaymakers in mass anti-tourism protests.
The new tax system will come into effect from January 1, 2025, as residents of Tenerife demand a cut in the number of holidaymakers.
The amount visitors will have to pay has not been confirmed yet.
Tunisia
Holidaymakers heading to Tunisia will be forced to pay a new tourist tax under plans outlined by the country’s government.
From November 1, 2024, package holidaymakers staying at properties with a two-star rating or higher will need to pay an additional charge for their overnight stay.
The rate will vary depending on the type of accommodation tourists have booked, and it will range from 4 Tunisian Dinars (£1) to 12 Tunisian Dinars (£4) per night.
For example, holidaymakers who’ve booked to stay at a two-star hotel will need to pay 4 Tunisian Dinars (£1) per night.
Meanwhile, those staying at three-star hotels will be asked to pay 8 Tunisian Dinars (£2) per night, while four and five-star hotel stays will cost an additional 12 Tunisian Dinars (£3).
Meanwhile, this popular tourist destination is also planning to increase its daily tourist charge.
And this UK seaside town became the first to tax tourists last year.
It is not yet known when the plans will be approved[/caption]
