It appears that Madrid could follow other Spanish tourist destinations in adopting the controversial tourist tax, which will require visitors to pay an extra charge for each night they spend in the city. Reyes Maroto, former Tourism Minister in Spain and current mayoral candidate in Madrid, has expressed her support for implementing the tax if she is elected. She emphasised that the tax should not just be a means of collecting revenue, but should also benefit the tourism industry. This is everything you need to know about the controversial tourist tax being considered by Spain’s capital Madrid.
Tourist tax in Spain
When it comes to the tourist tax in Spain, the measure has already been adopted in several popular destinations.
Barcelona's fee for tourists varies based on the type of accommodation chosen and is intended to address issues related to over-tourism. Presently, visitors who stay in rental accommodation are charged 4 euros per night, while those staying in five-star hotels are charged a higher rate of 5.25 euros per night. There are also plans to raise this amount by 1.50 euros by mid next year.
What is Balearic tourist tax? The Balearic Islands have been imposing a tourist tax since 2016, while the Valencian Community is set to introduce a charge ranging from 50 cents to 2 euros from December this year.
Worry from the tourism industry
Although Maroto advocates for using the tourist tax revenue to support the tourism industry, some industry insiders are concerned that the tax will discourage holidaymakers, who are already paying a premium for flights to Spain this summer. Gabriel Garcia Alonso, the president of Madrid's Hotel Business Association, stated that Madrid is experiencing a surge in popularity as a highly sought-after destination for both domestic and international tourists, with significant investment in the hotel industry, and therefore, a tourist tax is somewhat unnecessary.
A tourist tax was previously considered in the Spanish capital back in 2015, and again in 2018, but the plans have never actually become a reality.
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