19 Apr, 2022 @ 17:12
1 min read

Planned tourist tax ‘driving away’ British tourists from Spain’s Costa Blanca, despite Alicante and Benidorm councils refusing to charge it

Fears over new tourist tax 'driving away' British tourists from Spain's Costa Blanca, despite Alicante and Benidorm councils refusing to charge it
Cordon Press image

A Valencian tourist tax proposal has been slammed by an Alicante Province small business federation, despite no plans for any local council to implement it.

The Facpyme federation claims the tax will ‘drive away’ British tourists.

The levy, which is awaiting approval by the Valencian parliament, would introduce an accommodation surcharge of up to €2 per day.

Once it becomes law, there would be a year-long moratorium before it is introduced.

Even then, it would be down to each individual municipality to decide whether or not it wants to impose the tax,

No councils, including Alicante and Benidorm, have declared themselves as willing to boost local coffers by using the levy.

That still hasn’t stopped strong concerns being voiced over the tax.

President of the Facpyme federation, Carlos Baño, said families plan holidays on a fixed cost budget, and a loss of purchasing power caused by a tax would lead to lower spending in hotels, bars, and restaurants.

Carlos Bano
CARLOS BAÑO(Facpyme image)

Baño claimed UK media coverage of the Valencian government tax proposal could deter British tourists from coming to the region.

“The tourist tax drives away British tourism,” he said.

“This situation must be corrected, because tourism and Alicante Province do not deserve this bad publicity as a result of a bad decision. It must be said loud and clear.”

Valencian president, Ximo Puig, speaking on Tuesday, said the ‘tourist tax is not going to be implemented in practically any city in the Valencian Community’.

Both Curfew And Travel Rules Could Get Stricter President Ximo Puig
XIMO PUIG(GVA image)

Nevertheless, Puig, as PSPV socialist leader did bow to pressure from his left-wing coalition partners, Compromis and Podemos, to go ahead with the measure to satisfy their demand for it.

That’s despite the tourist sector taking a massive hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Puig’s PSPV colleague, and regional secretary for Tourism, Francesc Colomer, has not totally ruled out resigning if the tax becomes law, but added that he had not given any serious consideration to that scenario.

Francesc Colomer
FRANCESC COLOMER(GVA image)

Speaking to regional broadcaster, A Punt, Colomer added: “I don’t know of any PSPV mayor who is in favour of applying it and it would stop tourists going to some places.”

The main opposition Partido Popular have said they will scrap the tax if they win next year’s regional elections.

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Alex Trelinski

Alex worked for 30 years for the BBC as a presenter, producer and manager. He covered a variety of areas specialising in sport, news and politics. After moving to the Costa Blanca over a decade ago, he edited a newspaper for 5 years and worked on local radio.

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