The proposal appears to principally be one that is coming from Més: the party controls both the tourism and the social services ministries. A Balearic parliamentary deputy from Més, Toni Reus, has reiterated the party's view that one of the purposes of the "sustainable tourism tax" is social, and that this would therefore include creating places at residences for senior citizens. Reus acknowledged today, however, that gaining agreement on this would be complicated because of the opposition to the proposal from Podemos.
Reus said that there is currently a waiting list of 800 people to enter public residences on the islands, suggesting that this is, in part, because of low wages in the tourism sector and low pensions that the sector provides. These factors, therefore, increase the need for more places to be made available.
The issue is to be raised in parliament tomorrow, Reus adding that it will be studied by the parliamentary committee with the intention that the proposal should be approved on 22 March, which would allow investment in residences to be made during the period of the current administration (until 2019).
Podemos leader Alberto Jarabo said last week that the Balearics should have the finest care homes in the country but his party is fundamentally opposed to the proposal for tourist tax revenue use because it does not consider it to be in line with the "purposes" that are outlined in the draft legislation for the tax. Indeed, the proposal took many by surprise last week, as it hadn't previously been made public.
Jarabo has a further reason for opposing the proposal, and this has to do with the funding for the university's medical faculty. Podemos is also against this as the funding was not in the 2016 budget. Nor does the party believe that it is a priority. The view that Podemos has expressed to the government is that it should choose between the medical faculty and the residences and not touch tourist tax revenue.
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So, let me get this right: a UK tourist, for instance, who has worries about care for the elderly in his own country, will spend his hard-earned cash on a holiday in Mallorca, only to find that he must pay extra in a tourist tax that is going to provide care homes for oId people in Mallorca? On that basis, I suggest that all Spaniards who visit the UK must pay a daily £2 tax to help fund care for old people in our country. Where's the logic in this totally God-forsaken tourist tax idea?
Well,senior Reus,my taxes help to pay for care homes in the UK,amongst many other things,now,odd as this might seem,I expect the taxes of the people of Majorca and Spain to pay for these things,not me and every single tourist to Majorca.
I never thought I'd end up agreeing with Jarabo but at least he is right on this one. Just wait till the British press get the idea that this disgraceful proposed tourist tax will be used to fund the retirement of Mallorquin pensioners! Many more good causes will be put forward for funding before this tax ends up just like the last one. I've said before that this tax will be hidden and used by the councils to pay compensation for previously agreed licences that this government have cancelled. Alcudia wanted it for the re-routing of the electric cabling, Muro will be faced with a huge bill due to the cancelling of Son Bosc. Pollença has a few in the pipeline. Who's going to pay for all this? I suggest that the poor tourist will know nothing of this, thinking that his tax will go towards environmental projects such as cycle routes and clean beaches.