Antich says even hostels will charge tourist tax

Balearic President Francesc Antich said yesterday that he is confident that even the region's hostels will be charging the tourist tax from May 1. Antich stressed that there is no turning back on the tax, with just 11 days to go and that the tax will not be postponed until after the summer. “The idea is that everybody pays the tax from May 1,” he said. The Balearic leader also said that the Tourism and Finance Ministries are busy ironing out the last remaining logistical and technical problems which some sectors of the hotel industry are encountering, but everything is in place for the May 1 launch day. In Germany how ever, tour operators are talking to lawyers and consumers to make sure that there are no surprises should any of their clients refuse to pay the tax. Industry chiefs have warned that clients refusing to pay could find themselves refused entry to hotels, despite having paid for the package holiday, who will in turn sue their tour operator.