ABTA warns Balearic Islands against new eco tax
ABTA has warned the Balearic authorities against re-introducing a Green Tax on holidaymakers to Mallorca, Minorca and Ibiza.
Reports say that the islands’ government is looking again at imposing an eco-tax on tourists of €2 a day – meaning the average family of four would end up paying an additional £80 on a two-week holiday.
But the travel trade association has said that when an eco tax was introduced in 2002, it resulted in a ‘significant reduction in tourism numbers’.
An ABTA spokesman said: "We have not had official confirmation from the Balearic authorities that they intend to reintroduce this tax but if this turns out to be the case, we will write to them expressing our concerns and reminding them that it would only have the unintended consequence of driving tourists away from the islands.
"Of course safeguarding the environment of the islands has to be a high priority but this tax is not the most sensible way funding these efforts."
The new proposed tax would also be charged to residents living on the islands.
Biel Barcelo, vice president of the islands’ coalition government, told Mail Online: "It [the tax] will be applied with or without the help of the Spanish state. It is absolutely necessary."
Diane
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