The Northern Spanish municipalities of Valencia and Benidorm are fearing the worst after a trio of parliamentary groups approved the implementation of a tourist tax
The pressure exerted by the tourist industry of the Valencian Community has had no effect. The parliamentary tripartite has approved the implementation of a tourist tax. The Socialist Party of the Valencian Country (PSPV) eventually yielded to the pressure of its governmental partners.
The trio of groups that make up the Botanical, PSPV, Compromís, and Unidos Podem, have given the green light to this rule that taxes overnight stays. However, it will be the municipalities that have the last word, since they will be able to decide if they want to apply it or not.
As agreed, the tax will range from 50 cents per traveller per night in campsites or hostels to two euros in 4-star hotels and up. Cruise passengers will also be included, they will have to pay 1.5 euros. Tourists staying in higher-category tourist homes will not be exempt from the tax.
A limit of seven days will be set and those under 16 years of age will be exempt, as will those who are part of social programs such as Imserso trips (pensioners), for health reasons or war veterans, or similar categories.
The money raised will go towards improving services for tourists, infrastructure, and the environment.
Hotel and business owners from the Valencian Community, who are opposed to the controversial tourist tax, say they will adopt measures to try to stifle its application.
Hosbec, (The Hotel And Tourism Business Association Of The Valencia Community) has already announced that it will study challenging this rule in court.
“Since a 100% subsidised tax is a clearly unnecessary tax that should not even go beyond the draft document phase. If you want to create a municipal tax, as has been sold, you have to do it through a modification of the Local Finance Law,” said a Hosbec spokesperson.
The employers’ association will also request all political parties to include the repeal of this rule in their next electoral programs before it comes into force, which is scheduled for January 1, 2024.
