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ARCHIVED - Spanish capital considers introducing controversial tourist tax
Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community have already adopted this charge
Madrid looks set to become the latest holiday destination in Spain to introduce the controversial tourist tax, an additional charge visitors will have to pay for each night they spend in the capital city. Former Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto, who is running for Mayor in Madrid, has confirmed that she is in favour of implementing the tax if she wins her seat.
"The tourist tax does not have to be merely a tax, it has to be a tax that reverts to the tourism industry,” she stressed.
Holidaymakers in Barcelona already have to pay an extra 4 euros per night, and this figure is set to increase by 1.50 euros by the middle of next year. The Balearic Islands have been charging a tourist tax since 2016 and in the Valencian Community, an additional cost of between 50 cents and 2 euros will come into play in December.
While Ms Maroto believes the future tax should be pumped back into the tourism sector, those in the industry are worried that it will be off-putting for holidaymakers, who are already paying a premium for flights to Spain this summer.
"Madrid is booming and becoming one of the most desired destinations for national and international tourists with a large hotel investment, without the need for a tourist tax," said its Hotel Business Association president, Gabriel Garcia Alonso.
A tourist tax was considered in the Spanish capital back in 2015, and again in 2018, but the plans have never come to fruition.
While British tourists may balk at the additional charges, it seems that the tax is something they will have to get used to since a similar initiative is being rolled out all across the UK.
From April 1, visitors to Manchester city centre will be expected to pay 1 pound per night for the ‘City Visitor Charge’ and Edinburgh is poised to introduce a nightly 2 pound charge in the near future.
Image: Pexels
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