close
close

Barcelona raises tourist tax as Mallorca pushes for visitor cap

For illustration purposes only (Photo credits: file image)

Locals in Spain’s tourist hotspots are growing increasingly frustrated with mass tourism. Authorities are cracking down. Barcelona plans to raise the tourist tax for cruise passengers staying in the city for less than 12 hours, the mayor revealed in an interview on Sunday.

Also Read | Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala: 14-year-old boy with Nipah infection dies of cardiac arrest, says Health Minister Veena George.

“We are going to propose to significantly increase the tax for cruise passengers who make a stopover,” Jaume Collboni told El Pais newspaper.

Also Read | Shocking Incident in Hyderabad: Man Commits Suicide After Murdering His Wife and 10-Month-Old Daughter in Secunderabad

It is the latest in a series of measures he has announced to reduce the impact of mass tourism.

It came just weeks after protesters in Barcelona chanting “Tourists, go home” sprayed visitors with water as part of a demonstration against mass tourism.

Fewer but better paying tourists wanted

According to Statista, Barcelona had the highest number of cruise passengers last year, with around 3.6 million passengers.

The current tourist tax for cruise passengers making a stopover is €7 ($7.61) per day.

Collboni did not say by how much he will increase the tourist tax, but his reasons are clear.

“For cruise passengers who are in transit for less than 12 hours, there is intensive use of public space, without this benefiting the city. A feeling of occupation and saturation arises,” he said.

“We want tourism that respects the destination,” adds Collboni.

Collboni announced last month that the city will no longer rent apartments to tourists from 2028. He has also introduced other tourist taxes.

New protests against mass tourism in Mallorca

Anti-tourism activists have protested in popular holiday destinations across Spain, including Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and the Canary Islands.

The blame for the falling standard of living is often placed on visitors who drive up prices, including the cost of housing. Some places also struggle with what is known as party tourism.

Mallorca is such a place and wants to attract as few tourists as possible, but only those who are willing to spend money.

On Sunday, the activists are planning new protests against the excesses of mass tourism.

Just eight weeks ago, around 10,000 people took to the streets of Palma under the slogans “Enough is enough!” and “Mallorca is not for sale!”

Tourism is of great importance to Mallorca and accounts for 45% of the island’s economic output.

However, many argue that only a minority benefits from the sector, while the vast majority are left with low-paid jobs and face housing shortages, traffic congestion, noise and pollution.

lo/fb (dpa, Reuters)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2024 03:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).




Related Posts