The tax comes in on 1 July and will be charged for hotels as follows: two euros per person per day for five-star and four-star superior; one euro fifty for four-star and three-star superior; one euro for three-star and below. A 50% reduction applies after the eighth day, under-16s are not charged and there is also a 50% reduction in low season (November to April). The government anticipates generating revenues of 40 to 50 million euros this year and between 60 and 70 million in 2017.
Announcing the final approval, finance minister Catalina Cladera said that the tax would be a means of wealth redistribution for the conservation of the environment and preservation of heritage. Among the planned uses of the revenue are to be projects for environmental, agricultural and marine conservation and the rehabilitation of historical and cultural heritage.
Tourism minister Biel Barceló spoke about the commission that will oversee the allocation of revenue, saying that it is due to be established in September. Proposals for environmental improvement can then be submitted, meaning that some could be approved by the end of the year and projects started in 2017.
The government is conducting an information campaign in the Balearics and overseas, while hotels will have information in different languages.
Barceló said that it was normal for there to be a tourist tax as there are taxes charged in many other destinations where "nothing happens", by which he meant that there is no harmful impact. He stressed that tour operators have known about the tax for some while and have been able to inform clients. He considered the possibility of a tourist refusing to pay to be an "anecdotal case", saying that it would be like going to a car repair garage and not wanting to pay IVA (VAT).
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Our holiday to Majorca this year is our 5th out of the last 6 years but if I have to pay an extra tax then I am afraid it will be he mainland from now on!
I know about the tax,because I read the Bulletin on-line,but trust me, I have not heard a word from my tour company (First Choice). I am due to pay the balance for my holiday next week,so they may tell me then,but unless I mention it,I think that is very doubtful.
Well,I can tell you that no matter what the politicians say,almost nobody in the general public in the UK knows that they will be paying a tourist tax from the 1st of July because it has not been mentioned much,if at all,in the media here whereas practically everybody knows that we will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme so the message about the tourist tax has not reached most people,stand by for problems when people are asked to pay a tax they know nothing about.
VAT on VAT?