Biel Barcelo, Balearic Minister for tourism being interviewed by Bulletin managing editor Jason Moore. | Warwick Upton

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The Balearic minister for tourism, Biel Barcelo, appealed for the help of visiting tourists yesterday to make the islands a better place. He said that he understood that no-one liked paying additional taxes but the money the tourist levy which his department wants to introduce would be used to improve island resorts and also protect the environment.

He said that the tax would represent just 1.7 per cent of the overall cost of a package holiday and dismissed allegations made by the opposition Partido Popular and some hoteliers as scaremongering. Barcelo also said that his department would be looking to crackdown on the self-service alcohol being served as part of all-inclusive holidays in hotels.

The full interview with the minister for tourism will appear in Sunday's newspaper.