Valencia is not the only capital of spain which is in favor of introducing the tourist tax and is not the only one in which the political forces that govern have differences on how to apply it. Up to 5 major capitals of the country, authentic tourist powers, such as Seville, Malaga, Granada, Santiago de Compostela and San Sebastián They are determined to apply the tourist tax and in some cases have approved it in their municipal plenary sessions. The main obstacle encountered by all these municipalities when materializing the new tax today is that there is no legal framework in their respective autonomies that enables them to approve and implement this tax.
Furthermore, contrary to the argument that I launched the other day the leader of PP from Valencia María José Catalá, the idea of charging tourists a fee is not an issue that has to do with a supposed «tourism phobia» attributable to left-wing forces. Your partner Francisco de la Torre, Mayor of Malaga of the PP and to which Catalá gives as an example in multiple issues, has agreed to apply this rate, prior consensus with the sector and provided that the municipalities have full autonomy to execute it. The mayor of Malaga, in this matter, maintains the opposite position to his leader and regional president Juanma Moreno, who rejects such a tax measure since, in his opinion, it drives away visitors.
For their part, the socialist mayors of Seville (Antonio Muñoz) and Granada (Francisco Cuenca) They are in favor of the tourist tax, and like their Malacitano colleague, they advocate a tribute in the manner of the Valencian president Ximo Puig. That is to say, each municipality will be able to collect it as it wishes and in as many activities as it deems appropriate. The mayor of the city of the Alhambra, faced with the refusal of the PP government of the Junta de Andalucía, has launched a document, to which he has asked all interested Andalusian cities to join, so that the necessary legal framework is created to implement rate, through the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, or through the Central Government.
In Donostia, Mayor Eneko Goia, del PNV, also wants to implement this tax with a view to taxing tourist apartments above all, since 40% of the total for the Basque Country is found in his city. However, the executive of Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullo has ruled out implementing the measure now and will reconsider it in the next term. Lastly, in Santiago de Compostela, all the progressive forces with the abstention of the PP, approved a motion in plenary in which they urged the Xunta to regulate this rate. The socialist mayor Xosé Sánchez Bugallo defends charging it to improve the service provided to visitors.
Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and about 150 destinations in 30 countries around the world already charge
In Spain there are two autonomous communities that already charge the tourist tax: Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. Palma de Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza occupy the top three positions in the country with the highest rates. In fact, they vary between 1 and 4 euros. In Formentera it is also charged. They are followed by the Catalan cities of Barcelona (between 1.10 and 2.25 euros) and Girona (between 0.50 and 2.25), as the most expensive. However, as Vice Mayor Sergi Campillo explained, this tribute is widespread throughout Europe. The Hosteltur employers speak of about 150 destinations where this fee is charged, and only in Europe, 21 capitals such as Rome, Munich, Frankfurt, Florence, Lyon, Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Venice, Zurich, Geneva, Milan or Nice. In the rest of the world, there is also this tribute either for entry or stay. This is how you pay in cities and countries like New York, San Francisco, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Maldives, Riviera Maya, Dubai or Thailand.