There is growing concern within some tourism circles on the island that visiting tourists this summer know little about the tourist tax. In fact, millions of tourists are believed to be in the dark and they will get the shock of their lives when they find that they have a nice bill from the ministry for tourism. You can imagine the scenes at some reception desks. The tourist tax could be described as a “stealth” tax as it has been approved with few problems, and now it will be introduced on 1 July. But those who will have to pay it are largely uninformed. Only now is the ministry for tourism informing the European tourism industry. Tourist taxes are nothing new - in fact Malta is planning to introduce one this summer - so some tourists will not be too shocked. But others could hit the roof. The ministry for tourism needs to launch an information campaign across Europe at once because otherwise they risk having major problems this summer.
In the dark
09/04/2016 00:00
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Money is most useful at creation of wealth when it is allowed to circulate freely around local business. Once it has been taken as a tourist in tax it stops circulating through all the local businesses which are involved in tourism and ends up as dead money.
Jason - The begging bowls are well and truly out! I have just read some disturbing news about the 'sustainable tourist tax' (disturbing to me anyway!) It seems that the farmers/land owners are to benefit as well. A project to replenish the island's almond trees will be in place with some of next year's tax (apparently because -I quote - 'tourists like to photograph the blossom'). Also live stock farmers will be paid to produce 'sustainable herds' etc. (presumably because the tourists will want to eat the meat.) But when I recently suggested in a blog that cruise ships would be charged regardless of who came ashore, I meant it as sarcasm. But - now it seems to have been adopted. It appears that the captain will have to radio ahead details of the full complement of the ship (including crew!!) and all will be charged. The majority of ship's crew will not have the time off to visit the island. Surely this has to be fought against - given that live in hotel workers will not be charged! As ex ship's crew myself I find this discrimatory, a step too far and quite offensive.
My god. I almost fainted. For the first time in.years. I actually agree with you Jason.